“We Need Change”: Endometriosis Action Awareness Month

March marks Endometriosis Action Awareness Month, a full month for raising awareness about the diagnosis, treatment, issues and problems of the disease, endometriosis.

“Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women and those assigned female at birth in the UK” Endometriosis UK found. Yet, 54% of people do not know about the disease (Endometriosis, UK), increasing to 74% of men. This low level percentages of public awareness is seen to be shocking. It highlights the lack of education for women’s health.

So, what is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue, similar to the lining of the womb can grow in other parts of the body, such as organs in the pelvic area: the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the bowel.

It can be a painful disease, for many women this is the case. It can lead to a massive impact on women’s education, work, lifestyle, mental health and quality of life.

Endometriosis UK found that endometriosis costs the economy £8.2 billion each year in treatment, healthcare costs and loss of work, but the lack of research means that we do not know what causes it, and the only way to diagnose it is through laparoscopy surgery. Many professional workplaces do not recognise the condition.

So this March, Endometriosis UK are calling for healthcare professionals, politicians, policymakers, the public, and workplaces to come together to raise awareness of the dirase, its symptoms, impacts and quality of life for women.

Symptoms include: (Endometriosis UK)

• Pelvic pain
• Period pain that stops you doing normal activities
• Pain during or after sex
• Painful bowel movements
• Pain when urinating 
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Fatigue
• Women with endometriosis may also have heavy periods

If you are unsure about symptoms, Endometriosis UK have a symptom checker on their website, you can access it here!

How can we make change?

Endometriosis UK is a leading charity for endometriosis. This is through their helplines (driven by volunteers and nurses), their push for policymakers, their research into the disease and additional support through support groups.

You can find out additional information about the charity here.

Endometriosis UK have many events on in all of the four nations of the UK. They are on a mission for as many politicians for attend their events for this month’s awareness. You can write to our MP in under 2 minutes with their email form, which emails your local MP directly. You can access this here!

The University of Liverpool’s Women’s Health Advocacy Society – “We Need Change”.

Olivia, 21, has suffered with endometriosis and adenomyosis for as long as she could remember. She started seeing familiar symptoms to the condition in 2024, when she was having sharp pain near her left ovary. “The pain was horrendous. I have a high pain tolerance, but I was so confused because I never had bad pains when I had not been on my period” she stated. Endometriosis pain can occur at any time in somebody’s cycle.

Olivia was diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis in 2025, from laparoscopy surgery. She later founded the University of Liverpool’s Women’s Health Advocacy with hopes of supporting women throughout their journey of acceptance, awareness and diagnosis. She said, “Our society is for anyone who wants to advocate, learn and educate others about women’s health. Our society host an array of events from: presentation nights, craft events, monthly meetings about our experiences to film nights. We want to create a supportive community for all, and educate!”.

Olivia, and the committee are on their mission of raising more awareness for health conditions, like endometriosis, and more. They have already started their journey by creating posters for the Guild, on their digital boards about endometriosis, and their events, along with fundraising.

Olivia, the President and Founder of the society, pictured alongside the poster in the Guild about Endometriosis.

For Olivia, she made the poster wanting to spread awareness about the condition, but to also spread information about the symptoms, as it may help the person who is confused about why they are in consistent pain and have similar symptoms to endometriosis. Yet, they may be unaware they have similar symptoms to the condition.

If you are interested in the society and their events for Endometriosis Awareness Month, here are the dates and events below:

• Monthly Meet Up – 03/03, 5:30-7:30
• Bake Sale: For Endo UK – 09/03-13/03
• Coffee Walk -16/03, 15:15
• Wear Yellow For Endo Social (TBC)
• Endometriosis Talk with Between 2 Ovaries – 19/03, 17:00-18:30

For more information about their society, events and more, access their Guild page here, and access their Instagram here.

For more news, please click here: https://www.liverpoolguildstudentmedia.co.uk/category/news/