Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, continues to impact women’s careers and quality of life, with multiple individuals sharing experiences of delayed diagnoses and workplace difficulties.
Carla Cressy, 35, worked as a model from age five until 17 but experienced repeated collapses during shoots. She began experiencing severe pain from age 13 when her periods started, yet received an endometriosis diagnosis only at age 25. Prior to the diagnosis, doctors removed her appendix based on a mistaken acute appendicitis assessment, and she was hospitalized multiple times for chronic constipation. The extended period without treatment resulted in frozen pelvis disease, requiring bladder reconstruction surgery and a total hysterectomy. Cressy subsequently transitioned to work as a beauty therapist, later founding The Endometriosis Foundation after connecting with other affected women during her recovery.
Statistics indicate one in six women with endometriosis leave the workplace due to the condition. Currently, the UK has no legislation to ensure fair treatment for workers with menstrual health conditions requiring time off. Cressy recently provided testimony to an ongoing inquiry examining how endometriosis affects women’s employment. She notes that the condition extends beyond menstrual pain, encompassing complications such as lung collapse, kidney loss, infertility, and career interruption.
Other women reported similar diagnostic delays and workplace challenges. Abi Smith, 27, described experiencing severe pain when working at a post office and has since pursued disability benefits unsuccessfully. Monica Thomas, 34, waited years for diagnosis and now faces multiple related conditions including adenomyosis, pelvic congestion syndrome, and Lichen Sclerosus, with endometriosis having spread to her lungs. Thomas established Women’s Health Hope charity and is opening a women’s health hub in Ipswich.
Dr. Sula Windgassen, a psychotherapist, notes that women with endometriosis are frequently dismissed as having psychological rather than physical symptoms. A recent study cited found 84% of women feel unheard by healthcare professionals. An NHS spokesperson stated that medical professionals should follow National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for diagnosis and noted that specialist care is available through women’s health hubs in most areas.
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