Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 15 June 2021
In my first speech, I raised the hope that our new Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport would place importance on improving treatment for endometriosis and menopause. I want to repeat that hope today and to urge the Scottish Government to address what is more than a shortfall in the women’s health plan—it is the result of many years of lack of understanding, concern, and motivation throughout society to do anything about substandard care.
It is not simply a political problem—it is ingrained. It is an issue in medical research, academia and society in general. Women’s health takes a back seat: we get fewer research grants; we take the birth control; we take the hit. The Parliament must show leadership.
I talk a lot about the value of lived experience, and it is necessary in relation to these issues. Perception does not always match reality, and it is vital that those who experience the issues first hand lead any discussions about them, or outcomes will be ineffective. In particular, with issues such as menstruation and menopause, which have been historically ignored or hidden away, to continue the conversation as it is now means to work off outdated assumptions, myths and misbelief. We have to start again.
I also hope that, although we describe these issues as “women’s health”, efforts will be made to ensure that people who are not women but suffer from the same issues feel able to enter the conversation and seek better care.
Given that we still are not past the point of requiring euphemisms to talk about periods or using blue liquid to denote menstrual blood, it will be quite a challenge to raise awareness about, and treatment standards for, endometriosis and dysmenorrhoea, but we must. As someone who has been hospitalised many times due to my period, I hope to see wider recognition that, for many who menstruate, a period is not just a cramp or an annoyance. It is something that causes excruciating pain, which not even morphine will fully relieve; it prohibits mobility; and it causes chronic pain throughout the month. It is something that workplaces—even doctors themselves—often completely misunderstand and stigmatise.
I am really glad to see that the Scottish Government aims to reduce waiting times for a diagnosis of endometriosis to 12 months. In order to do so, however, we have to recognise and admit that one of the reasons that it takes so long now is that those who seek help with their periods are dismissed. We are accused of exaggerating pain; of it being because we are a size 14 instead of a size 8; and—especially if we also have mental health issues—of being, essentially, hysterical, with doctors suggesting that it is all in our heads when we are curled up on the bathroom floor, screaming in pain as we wait for an ambulance.
It is not just that there is a long assessment period or a lack of research and available treatment, but that we are sent home from the GP again and again, with a wave of the hand, a pack of paracetamol, a prescription for mefenamic acid and—if we are lucky—an appointment with someone else in a few months.
Given how hard it is to break down assumptions about menopause, I realise that it will be a challenge to raise awareness of early menopause, but we must do that as well. If an employee approaches their boss and says that they are struggling and the reaction is a laugh, a joke or disbelief because they are “not old enough”, that is unacceptable.
We have a long way to go. I am committed to doing my bit to bring lived experience to the discussion, raise awareness and work with the Government to make life better for those who suffer issues that women typically experience, but we must begin from a point of understanding just how bad the situation is.
16:59