More than a quarter of women England Live with a serious reproductive health problem, according to the largest survey of this type, and experts say that “systemic, operational, structural and cultural problems” prevent women from accessing care.
The survey of 60,000 women across England in 2023, funded by the Ministry of Health And social care and analyzed by London School academics of hygiene and tropical medicine, found that 28% of respondents lived with reproductive morbidity, such as prolapse of pelvic organs, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary cancer, or cervical, uterine, ovarian or breast cancer.
Almost a fifth (19%) of women said they had suffered from intense period pain in the past year, and 40% of respondents reported heavy menstrual bleeding. More than 30% of participants aged 16 to 24 reported severe pain.
The marked ethnic inequalities were revealed by the investigation. More than a third (38.1%) of black women reported a breeding condition, compared to 27.7% of white women, making black women 69% more likely to have such a condition than their counterparts after adapting to age. This was caused by a large difference in the percentage of women reporting uterine fibroids: 19.8% of black women said they had the condition, against only 5% of their white counterparts.
A woman told the tutor the debilitating pain caused by a serious case of uterine fibroids. “The pain was horrible,” said Rebecca Brown, a 46 -year -old graphic designer from southern London, who was supported by Women’s well-being. “I couldn’t walk, I had to use heat pads all the time and all my life changed in a second.”
Brown, who said that she felt rejected by the NHS consultants at the start, finally underwent surgery which found 25 large fibroids measuring up to 12 cm each. After being diagnosed in brown, from a mixed heritage environment, revealed that black and mixed women were more likely to develop fibroids.
“I was not initially ever said what the fibroids were and I received no advice on pain management or if I needed a scan,” said Brown. “I now know that with black women, fibroids can be more aggressive.”
Overall, 74% of women said they had had some form of reproductive health problem recently linked to menstruation, menopause, pregnancy and diseases such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. By applying the results to the population of women aged 16 to 55 living in England, the researchers estimated that more than 10 million women were dealing or had recent experience, at least one of the problems related to the reproductive health examined.
Reproductive or menstrual health problems examined by the survey include heavy or severely painful periods, symptoms of menopause, infertility, loss of pregnancy or reproductive morbidities such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Dr. Melissa Palmer of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the main research author said: “For the first time, we have been able to estimate the percentage of women and people assigned to a woman at birth who know – or who have recent experience – any genesic health problem.
“This is a striking observation that almost three -quarters of those questioned have reported recent experience of at least a problem related to the reproductive health that we have examined. We know that there are important ethnic inequalities in maternal health in Great Britain-our results suggest that these extend to other aspects of reproductive health.
Paulette Hamilton, MP for Birmingham Erdington and president of the versatile parliamentary group on Black Health, said: “The conclusions of this historic investigation confirm what black women have known for decades: our reproductive health is in crisis. However, our pain is too often rejected, underreshly and treated inadequately.
“The fact that black women are 69% more likely to suffer from serious reproduction conditions that white women is not only a disparity is a systemic negligence.”
She added: “It is imperative that we tackle these disparities by investing in targeted research, prioritizing culturally competent care and driving up the structural racism which leaves black women carrying the weight of reproductive injustice.”
Dr. Randee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said that the results had painted a “sad but unsurprising image” of reality for women with genesic health problems in England.
She added: “Serious conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis can have a devastating impact on almost all aspects of a person’s life, including an impact on their physical and mental health, and their ability to work and socialize. Too often, systemic, operational, structural and cultural problems mean that women cannot see in these results and our current system may find the health inequalities that we can see in these results.
“The RCOG undertakes to work with the government and the leaders of the NHS to ensure that the 10 -year health plan puts the health of women in its heart.”
Prof Faye Ruddock, president of Caribbean and African health networksaid almost all other black women who had spoken had “experienced reproductive health challenges such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, heavy bleeding and painful periods.
“I saw first -hand how these complex problems cannot be identified with unique causes, but arise from a combination of factors, including genetics, environmental stress and systemic inequalities in health care.
“To respond to these disparities, we must ensure fair access to health services which are supported by culturally sensitive care that is adapted to meet the needs of black women. We must also raise awareness of these conditions and how they present themselves differently in black women. ”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said: “We recognize that striking health inequalities exist in Great Britain today, and we will tackle these front things within the framework of our change plan. It starts by listening to all women to make sure they receive the high quality care they deserve, whatever their ethnicity.
“Our success in reducing waiting lists will benefit all patients, including women with gynecology problems.”