University News Last updated 01 June 2010
Birmingham City University is aiming to stop women who have the painful medical condition endometriosis from suffering in silence.
It is estimated that this debilitating gynaecological illness affects approximately one in 10 women, regardless of race or ethnicity. However research carried out by academics at the University and colleagues at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Middlesex University and Leicester de Montfort University has revealed that women from certain ethnic communities including Pakistani, Chinese, Greek, African-Caribbean and Indian are less likely to seek treatment.
Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. It causes bleeding which has no way of leaving the body (unlike menstrual bleeding) and this leads to inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue (adhesions). Endometrial tissue can also be found in the ovary, where it can form cysts. The actual cause of endometriosis is unknown and although there are several theories none fully explain why the condition occurs. Some women experience symptoms while others do not and common symptoms include painful, heavy, or irregular periods, pain during or after sex, infertility, bowels problems and fatigue.
Professor of Health Sociology at Birmingham City University, Dr. Elaine Denny, has led the NHS-funded research on the ethnic minority experience of endometriosis. She has found that some women are reluctant to seek help for the condition for cultural reasons. Elaine said: “Unmarried women from some minority ethnic communities don’t contact their GP about this because they believe they will be viewed by society as infertile and therefore will have difficulty finding a husband.”
“Also some women who come from ethnic backgrounds in which sex before marriage is not acceptable are reluctant to have an internal examination because they believe it will result in the loss of their virginity.”
From the findings of the research Elaine and colleagues have produced a number of leaflets and DVDs to help women understand endometriosis and hopefully banish the myths surrounding the illness. They have been produced in English, Greek, Urdu, Gujarati, simplified Chinese and Punjabi. The release of these leaflets is going to be marked by a launch event at Birmingham Women’s Hospital on Monday 7 June at 12.30pm.