Education campaign on Endometriosis

Senator Sarah O’Reilly (Aon) has called for an immediate national education campaign on endometriosis, warning that too many women are being misdiagnosed or left without answers.

Speaking in the Seanad, she said the condition can have a major impact on physical and mental health, causing symptoms including pelvic pain, extreme fatigue, bowel problems, depression and fertility difficulties. Senator O’Reilly said she had heard from women who had presented to GPs and consultants with serious concerns, only to be “misdiagnosed or just prescribed antidepressants and sent on their way”. She said many young women were going to school and work while living with pain, but were being told it was simply “a bad period” or a hormonal issue that would resolve itself.

“What is even more worrying is the lack of knowledge within the medical community itself,” she said, adding that some women only received a diagnosis after hearing about endometriosis from friends, family or social media. She welcomed increased media coverage of the condition but called for the Government to follow through on plans for an information campaign. “Similar to sepsis, in the doctor’s waiting room, all you need is a poster,” she said.