This article was republished on 8 March 2026 for International Women’s Day to showcase the incredible women at Bylines Network
When it comes to women’s health there is a huge amount of information available. If you have ever seen a university archive storage facility, the information would fill that and more!
This article will focus on two specific conditions where information is seemingly lacking, or at least poorly communicated, and how at times women are dismissed and told there is no help available.
Women’s health: know what’s normal
Let’s start with a key point – the importance of knowing yourself and your body (this applies to everyone, not just women). Being mindful and present means you learn what is normal for you. When something doesn’t fit your normal you’ll feel empowered to seek support. If something doesn’t feel right, no matter how small or insignificant it seems, it’s vital to get checked out.
Early diagnosis for many conditions can be the difference between life and death. Peace of Mind, a recent campaign in Nottinghamshire, is definitely worth a read. They share key diagnoses and what to watch out for. Women’s bodies are complicated and vary widely, so seeking advice will give you peace of mind.
Periods are a normal part of women’s health. They are generally pretty rubbish and can hurt like hell! I’ve recently discovered there are bespoke painkillers for periods. Mefenamic acid blocks the hormones that cause the womb to contract. This can ease what seems like endless pain – superb news for many.
But alongside standard periods, there are some conditions that mean every moment of every period can be agonising. Two of these, endometriosis and adenomyosis, are under-researched and often only have symptomatic treatment.
Endometriosis: new treatment brings hope
Endometriosis is where tissue similar to that of the uterus grows elsewhere, such as around the intestines or ovaries, causing immense pain and discomfort. It affects women of all ages and ethnicities and can last from your first period until menopause. Around 1.5 million women in the UK are affected and until relatively recently, treatment has mainly targeted symptoms rather than causes.
Previously, women had to rely on contraceptive tablets or the coil to relieve the pain. In some cases, including my own, women in their 20s are told to have a baby to ease the symptoms! I can vehemently say that it does not help. This advice is remiss and irresponsible given that endometriosis can cause fertility problems – imagine being told to relieve your pain this way then finding out you can’t get pregnant.
Many celebrities have shared their experiences of endometriosis – the pain, and the time it takes to get a diagnosis. Some have had surgery. Others just manage symptoms. Things are looking more positive now due to a new pill. Ryego blocks the hormones that encourage endometriosis as well as replacing necessary hormones. This new pill could be a real breakthrough and if you are struggling it may be valuable to share this research with your GP.
Adenomyosis: a story of being dismissed
Very closely linked to endometriosis is adenomyosis, where the womb lining grows in the muscle of the womb wall. This can be excruciatingly painful, causing heavy bleeding, pain during sex, and bloating. Treatment again often targets symptoms rather than causes and can lead to a hysterectomy. Doctors only have theories about how adenomyosis occurs, including cell invasion after surgery such as a C-section, or inflammation after childbirth.
In 2023 Naga Munchetty from BBC News shared the pain she was suffering from adenomyosis, and how she was labelled ‘just unlucky’. She interviewed a lady who had a hysterectomy at 34 years of age due to the pain of adenomyosis. Like many women’s health stories, these cases were dismissed with comments such as “it’s normal,” or “it’s just a heavy period.”
The fight to be taken seriously is real. A 2023 survey, ‘Just a period‘ found that 50% of women said their period symptoms had been dismissed by someone. The results of this survey go some way to explaining why:
- 32% of men said it wasn’t reasonable to take time off because of period pain.
- 24% said it was not OK to take time off for heavy bleeding.
- 35% thought it was more acceptable to take time off for toothache.
Only 10% of participants knew about adenomyosis, and 59% endometriosis, suggesting more awareness would be advantageous. Finally, 74% of respondents agreed that health professionals need more education on menstrual and gynaecological conditions.
Time for some good news on women’s health
Despite these issues, the Government have launched a Women’s Health Strategy for 2025 with key initiatives:
- Ensuring women’s voices are heard.
- Improving access to services.
- Addressing disparities in outcomes among women.
- Better information and education.
- Understanding women’s health in the workplace.
- Supporting more research and improving data.
Women’s health issues have long been under-researched and normalised; this strategy aims to address that. Hopefully, changes will be made and more proactive awareness will come; in particular, for men in the workplace. If the ‘Just a Period’ survey is anything to go by, it will be interesting to see how this impacts healthcare and healthcare professionals, as well as outcomes for women.
Women’s health is complex
Research is still needed into many conditions and healthcare professionals would benefit from more training. However, it cannot just be left to them. Having good self-knowledge and an awareness of some key conditions will help you understand if you need professional advice. Here are a few final tips to support you along the way:
- Learn to know what your normal is and be curious about variations to that.
- Make sure you have someone you can talk to about any concerns.
- If you discover your normal has variations, research what that means. Google can help, but your GP is the better option.
- Prevention is always better than cure. That’s why it’s so important to know what is normal for you. Be proactive – don’t wait for something to worsen.
- Keep track of what is happening. Keep it simple. Use your phone calendar, or download one of many available health apps to log changes or concerns. You can take this information to the GP if you need to talk to them.
- Prepare questions for your healthcare appointment; take notes or bring someone to help if you’re too worried to absorb everything.
- Make the most of those 10 minutes; push for a referral if your gut instinct is still speaking to you.
But most importantly remember- YOU know YOU best!
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