Women take endometriosis debate to Westminster

A woman with endometriosis said it had been one of the "proudest days of my life", after she helped secure a parliamentary debate on the condition to improve awareness and support.

Faye Ramsey, 31, from Ipswich, spent 10 years in crippling pain, with doctors suggesting she had IBS before she was finally diagnosed last year.

The condition, which affects more than 1.5 million women in the UK, occurs when cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow elsewhere in the body.

Faye had made it her goal to ensure women's stories were heard by government.

For weeks, Faye has been collecting women's health stories, and earlier this month she urged Ipswich Labour MP Jack Abbott to meet her and hear her plan to take them to government.

He agreed to help set up a debate and invited Faye to attend, but she insisted other women with the condition should also be there.

"I think it's really important that other women get their time and that they know that their stories are being heard," she said.

A general debate among several MPs was held on Tuesday, led by Abbott, and Faye said many women's stories were heard throughout.

"It's no exaggeration, I would absolutely put it up there with being one of the proudest days of my life," Faye continued.

"Nothing's ever going to top my children [being born], but that has to come very close."

She added: "The whole day we just felt really seen, really heard, and we all felt really positive about the whole experience."

Faye said the experience had given her confidence that improvements around the condition would be made in future, including around education and diagnosis wait times, but she said she "won't stop until there is an acceptable level of change".

Alongside Faye at Westminster was Siana Lynch, 26, Evie Niblock, 21, and Zoe Wright, 29, who are all from Ipswich and have the condition.

They were also joined by Monica Thomas of Women's Health Hope and several other women.

Siana, who was diagnosed last year after suffering 11 years of pain, said the debate was a "massive step in the right direction" towards making change.

"It was reassuring to hear and see not only our local MP passionately fighting by the endometriosis community's side, for this, but other MPs across the country representing their constituents too," she added.

Evie was only diagnosed two years ago after experiencing endometriosis symptoms for a decade.

She said she hoped the debate marked "the beginning of a much larger shift".

"Greater awareness, better access to specialist care, and a more comprehensive approach to treatment are urgently needed," she explained.

"This must be the start of lasting change."

Zoe spent 15 years without answers before her diagnosis last year.

"Being at parliament was such an amazing experience and has felt like such a pinch-me moment," she said.

"Hearing the debate, different statistics and points made, even made me learn new things, and hearing others' stories was such an emotional moment."

A recent report from charity Endometriosis UK found the average wait for a diagnosis had reached nine years and four months.

As well as this, 39% of respondents had to visit their GP 10 or more times before endometriosis was suspected, while 46% of respondents who attended hospital were sent home without treatment.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.