Increase funding for treatment and research into endometriosis

There is a lack of support or check ups for endometriosis. The disease is under researched, without a cure and can be left to worsen and can cause severe, chronic pain. More funding is needed to improve treatment options and increase research.

We believe there isn't adequate support to help us to try to manage this condition. More treatment options need to be provided. There needs to be more options available for maintaining our health as best as possible with imaging check ups, endo clinics in GP surgeries and advice ready to those in desperate need as there are many.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships and their participation in education and the workforce. The Government acknowledges that more should be done to support women with endometriosis.

Any woman experiencing symptoms of endometriosis should contact their GP practice. Information on endometriosis symptoms and treatments can be found on the NHS website (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/endometriosis/) and by viewing the video series on menstrual health on the NHS YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnhASgDToTkvLigKt1XBE-iwZVJxd7Lto).

Education and clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide care for women with endometriosis. The General Medical Council is introducing the Medical Licensing Assessment for the majority of incoming doctors, including all medical students graduating from academic year 2024/25 and onwards. Within this assessment are a number of topics relating to women’s health including endometriosis. This will encourage a better understanding of women’s health conditions among doctors as they start their careers in the UK. Endometriosis is also included in the core curricula for general practitioners, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance for the health and care system. NICE has recently partially updated its guideline on the diagnosis, management and treatment of endometriosis (www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG73).

NHS England also produces national service specifications, which are contractual documents that set out the minimum requirements and standards that service providers must meet. An updated service specification for severe endometriosis will be published this year. This will improve the standards of care for women with severe endometriosis by ensuring specialist endometriosis services have access to the most up-to-date evidence and advice. (https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Complex-gynaecology-severe-endometriosis.pdf).

The Government funds healthcare services by issuing funding to NHS England. NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). ICBs then decide how that money is spent within the local Integrated Care System, including decisions about funding for endometriosis. Departmental budgets for 2025/26 will be confirmed at the Chancellor’s next Budget, on 30 October.

The Government funds medical research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and UK Research Innovation (UKRI). The Government recognises the importance of funding research into endometriosis. From 2018/19 to 2023/24, UKRI and the Department of Health and Social Care, through the NIHR, have invested £14.92 million into endometriosis research. This includes a range of projects from discovery science through to applied health research into diagnosis, treatment and service delivery. Funding impactful research relies on identifying the most important research questions, involving the public and patients in research as well as investing in the careers of future researchers.

Examples of current NIHR research include: a project seeking to improve early diagnosis of endometriosis through the use of artificial intelligence (https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR207357); and a study to explore patient and healthcare professionals' experiences of the management, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis (https://www.fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR156216). UKRI-funded research includes a series of projects seeking to understand why some women develop endometriosis while others do not.

In addition, the NIHR Women’s Doctoral Fellowship Scheme, launched in partnership with Wellbeing of Women, will support career development and the pipeline of researchers with expertise in women’s health issues such as endometriosis (https://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/what-we-do/research/for-researchers/funding-opportunities/nihr-wow-doctoral-fellowships/).

Women with endometriosis play a vital role in this research. The NIHR actively engages with and involves patients, carers and the public in all stages of research. By continuing to strengthen our collaborations with people and communities, improvements can be made to the relevance, quality and impact of research.

The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including endometriosis. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Department of Health and Social Care