Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 11 January 2022
I begin with a declaration of interests, as I am a practising general practitioner. However, I have a further interest to declare that does not appear in my entry in the register of interests: I am a man. I do not know what a period feels like, nor do I know what endometriosis feels like, but, as a GP, I can tell members that my patients really suffer.
We have heard Rachael Hamilton tell us that 10 per cent of women have endometriosis. That is 1.5 million Scots who have chronic pelvic pain; period pain that affects their daily life; deep-rooted pain after sex; cyclical gastrointestinal symptoms, which is pain on passing bowel motions on a cyclical basis; cyclical urinary symptoms, which is blood or pain when passing urine; and infertility. The risk factors for developing endometriosis are early periods, not being pregnant and a family history of the condition.
I want to tell members briefly about a patient of mine—a working woman who basically had to give up her job. The reason was that, every month, she had to take time off work because she could not cope with what was going on. She was crying and she was depressed, and she was given multiple different painkillers and antidepressants. She was unable to get pregnant. Members will see that there is a vicious cycle—every single thing that I have mentioned makes the next thing even worse. We treated her with painkillers, and eventually we realised the diagnosis and she ended up in surgery and had laser treatment. She actually saw some improvement.
I have read out the symptoms to members, and it seems pretty obvious that endometriosis would be the diagnosis, but each symptom came to us separately at a different consultation. These are some of the problems that we experience. Women might not seek help, and that is a concern.
To go back to my declaration of interest as a man, I simply could not put up with the symptoms that I have described. I do not understand how women can put up with them, but they do. It is because they are not believed. It is because they turn up and tell GPs and health professionals that they have problems, and they are dismissed. It is unbelievable that that happens now, but I know that it does; I have given an example from my own practice of when it has happened.
I want to say this to anyone who is out there listening and to any women who are suffering with the symptoms that I have described: please do not suffer in silence. Come forward and see your GP, and—most important—keep a diary of your symptoms, because, if you can present us with a diary, that makes it more obvious. When I read out the list of symptoms just now, the diagnosis was more obvious, so I ask anyone who is listening to please do that. Come and see us, and do not suffer.