Many women in the UK report feeling unsupported when talking to healthcare professionals about their concerns with many women visiting their GP 10 or more times with the same issues before receiving further investigation. They also report feeling pressured to make decisions about their care journey and uninformed about the implications of the decisions presented to them.

Using Endometriosis as an example - On average it takes 9 years to get a diagnosis, often because some symptoms can be dismissed as ‘normal’ or as ‘just heavy periods’. As well as this, often with patients can be mis-diagnosed with UTIs, IBS or even Anxiety. When a patient does manage to get further investigations, often patients are not informed of the options available to them. Additionally, if surgery is recommended, women could be unaware of the potential risks and consequences. Often patients go down a route of care not knowing what they can ask for or what they should be aware of. We are here to change that. Women’s Health Access provides information so that patients can make informed choices.

Outside of healthcare, women report facing blockers to support for their gynaecological conditions in their work life. Talented women leave the workforce because their employers lack the policies to support their symptoms or conditions. This widespread lack of understanding around women’s health creates a culture of silence that leaves women isolated and unsupported, even in their social circles.

Our aim is to share knowledge with people who want access to care, with employers so they can make better choices when it comes to policies and with the general public so that people feel supported in all areas of their life.