Endometriosis is a common condition, affecting 10% of women worldwide. However, despite its prevalence, the symptoms can often be misdiagnosed meaning that on average, it takes 8 years 10 months from the first GP visit to get a diagnosis.1
Endometriosis can have a big impact on all aspects of a person’s life, including their career. A BBC research study of 13,500 women with endometriosis in the UK found that2:
- Nearly all said it had badly affected their career, sex life and mental health
- Most said it had impacted their education
- Most said they rely on prescription painkillers every month
- Around half said they had experienced suicidal thoughts
Alongside this, an Office for National Statistics survey found that, for women in paid employment, average monthly pay decreased between one and five years after they received their diagnosis – with earnings dropping by £56 per month on average in the four to five post diagnosis, compared to two years before. This may be due to the fact that women often have to reduce their hours or take lower-paying jobs due to the debilitating nature of endometriosis.3
What is endometriosis and what are the symptoms?
Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body. It is often found in areas around the womb, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and lining of the pelvis, but can also sometimes affect organs, such as the bladder and bowel.4
Endometriosis symptoms can include5:
- Pelvic pain
- Painful periods that interfere with everyday life
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pain during or after sex
- Painful bowel movements
- Pain when urinating
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Fatigue, with one or more of the above symptoms
How might endometriosis affect an employee at work?
Endometriosis can affect all areas of someone’s life, including their working life. Some ways that it can have an impact include:
- Physical symptoms: The physical symptoms of endometriosis, such as pelvic pain, painful periods and fatigue can lead to extreme discomfort which may affect an employees’ ability to concentrate and ability to perform their tasks effectively
- Absenteeism: One report found that 55% of respondents had often or very often taken time off work due to their endometriosis6
- Presenteeism: Presenteeism, where employees attend work despite being unwell, may also mean that they are present at work but are unable to focus on their tasks due to their symptoms
- Less career prospects: Many people who suffer from endometriosis feel that it has a negative impact on their career. One report found that, of those surveyed6:
- 38% said their endometriosis impacted the work they can do
- 38% said they had difficulty pursuing the career they wanted
- 28% have had to change or leave their job
- 27% believe they have missed out on a promotion due to their endometriosis
How can you manage endometriosis symptoms at work?
Nikki Porges, Registered Nurse at AXA Health, shares her tips for how to manage endometriosis symptoms at work:
Speak to your manager: One of the first key actions to take if you find your condition is affecting you at work is to arrange to have a chat with your manager about your condition and how it affects you. There may be a menstrual health policy in place, for example, that your manager can use to guide them on the types of support they can offer to you to help minimise the impact your symptoms have on your ability to work. If you don’t feel able to speak with your manager, then you could speak to someone in your HR department instead.
Consider a flexible working request: You might also want to consider making a flexible working request to help with the days you find your symptoms are at their worse. For example, remote working (if your company can offer this) during very heavy bleeding days or when experiencing acute pain can help ensure you feel as comfortable as possible while you are working. Asking for a quiet place/room to work from on bad days is another option to think about.
Invest in a heat pad or TENS machine: Many women find bringing a heat pad or similar to wrap around their stomach while working is a great way to help manage the pain on bad days. Heat can help to loosen and soothe the pelvic muscles that cramp up and contribute to the pain. You can also buy self-heating pads to apply to your stomach if you find them more practical. You may also like to consider using a TENS machine to help with your pain management. These are wearable devices that can be purchased privately or supplied through physiotherapists. Please note these are not included as part of your private health insurance plan.
Stay hydrated: Remember to stay hydrated and ensure you keep your fluids topped up throughout the day, as well as eating light frequent snacks and meals. These should be high in lean protein, fruits and vegetables and snack on nuts and seeds to help keep your blood sugar levels stable and fight inflammation.
Incorporate gentle movement: Finally, try to incorporate some gentle movement into your day if you are an office worker as sitting for long periods can compress the nerves in your pelvis triggering and contributing to the pain. Light stretches, yoga and gentle walks can all be incorporated within a lunch break, for example.
What can employers do to support endometriosis at work?
Nikki shares her tips for how employers can support endometriosis at work:
When supporting employees with this condition, it can be helpful to remember that endometriosis is an ‘unseeable condition’. This means that employees can be experiencing significant disabling symptoms that impact their lives but there are no outward signs of this.
With the main symptoms of acute extreme pain (that can occur at any time regularly throughout the month), heavy bleeding and fatigue, alongside the mental health effects of depression and anxiety (which often sit alongside this condition) here are a few examples of the type of adjustments that can help:
- Offering flexible working options (if reasonable from a business perspective), alongside time off work or remote working when needed, on days when pain and/or bleeding is severe and time off for tests or treatment
- Access to mental health and emotional support, for example an employee assistance programme
- Adapting work deadlines alongside reallocating tasks if needed when an employee is experiencing fatigue or acute pain/bleeding
- Alongside this remaining open and approachable and fostering a sense of safety for an employee to feel able to discuss their condition within a health friendly work culture can help to support your employee with any reasonable adjustments needed while helping them to remain in work contributing their talent to your business
How we can help
Our experienced health professionals are available 24/7 to answer your questions about endometriosis via our health information phone line. Whether you’re looking for tips to help you manage your symptoms, or you have a question about medication that you’ve been prescribed. Our experienced team of nurses, midwives, pharmacists and counsellors are just a phone call away, ready to support you.*
Access to our 24/7 health support line is included as standard with our small business health insurance, regardless of the cover options you choose.
*Our nurses and counsellors are available 24/7. Our pharmacists and midwives are available: 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm Saturday and 8am-12pm Sunday.
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