Derry councillor opens up about fertility struggles during endometriosis discussion

The “outreach, educational and support work” of Derry Well Women Centre’s Endometriosis Support Group has been recognised by Derry City and Strabane District councillors.

A motion brought to February’s Council meeting by Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) and seconded by Cllr Catherine McDaid (SDLP) was passed unanimously on Wednesday afternoon.

Endometriosis is a condition which affects one in seven women globally; it causes tissue similar to the lining of the womb to grow outside the womb and results, amongst other things, in “chronic pain, infertility and loss of abdominal organs”. 

The motion noted that Endometriosis is a “disease which is as prevalent as asthma and diabetes” in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, yet “they have access to only one clinic a month based in Altnagelvin Hospital”.

Endometriosis patients can wait up to 10 years for a diagnosis and a further three plus years for essential surgery. 

Council gave its “full support to the campaigners” and agreed to “work with the Endometriosis Support Group to develop a plan of action for this March’s ‘Endometriosis Awareness Month’.

It also agreed to write to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt for “clarification on the Department of Health’s strategy to improve provisions for those suffering with Endometriosis in the Western Trust”. 

In addition, councillors called on the Minister to “prioritise the progression of a women’s health strategy that supports women through every stage of their lives, with a particular focus on education, awareness raising, early diagnosis and timely treatment”. 

Council is also going to write to Education Minister Paul Givan seeking “clarity on the Department of Education’s strategy to educate all students, including boys, about menstrual health issues”.

Cllr Harkin highlighted that as part of ‘Endometriosis Awareness Month’ an event was taking place at Ulster University’s Magee campus on Monday, March 3 at 7.00pm, and an event in Stormont on March 18, to which all political parties were invited. 

He added: “Endometriosis is a condition which impacts close to 200 million women and girls across the world. It is a chronic disease, associated with life-impacting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements, urination, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue and sometimes depression, anxiety and infertility.

“When I met the support group, the members expressed a lot of frustration at the lack of availability of healthcare facilities for them and a lack of expertise as well in the Health Department and a lack of general education about the issue.

“I do believe there is a lot of confusion, even some denial about the condition that a lot of women and girls have to contend with. They said to me, if this was a condition that impacted men, there would be huge investment in research papers and hospitals to solve this problem, and there really isn’t that level of support.

“The Endometriosis Support Group is campaigning for more resources in the Health Service to be dedicated to this and for women who have this condition to be taken seriously, for proper treatments to be made available and for education in our schools - including for boys - about women’s and girls’ menstrual cycles,” said Cllr Harkin. 

Mayor Lillian Seenoi-Barr praised Cllr Harkin’s motion. Cllrs Martin Reilly and Catherine McDaid (SDLP), Aldermen Janice Montgomery and Darren Guy (UUP), Cllr Caroline Devine (SF) spoke to support the motion on behalf of their respective parties.

Alderman Julie Middelton said the DUP supported all women “struggling with undiagnosed or diagnosed endometriosis”.

“On behalf of those of us females who have endometriosis, those who are awaiting diagnosis and those we know who have symptoms of endometriosis, we acknowledge the difficulties and the painful and often mentally draining symptoms that endometriosis can bring to your daily life,” added Ald Middelton.

“We are in support of projects run such as that at the Derry Well Woman Centre. We also acknowledge we must tackle the waiting lists.

“We broadly support almost all of the motion, however, speaking as a woman, I do want to put it on record that I feel the wording of ‘assigned female at birth’ in the motion, in relation to a medical condition that can only be experienced by women, is offensive.

“Endometriosis, among many other symptoms, can cause infertility an estimated 20% increase in a miscarriage. Between the birth of my son and my daughter, I lost 10 times. No man will ever know the physical pain, the feeling of the life draining from my body, or the mental distress I went through, during those years,” recalled Ald Middleton.

Ald Middleton said wording such as ‘assigned female at birth’ completely demoralised “the infertility that I and so many other females with Endometriosis and other female fertility issues face”.

Councillor Harkin to Move: Council recognises the work of the Endometriosis Support Group (ESG), based in Derry Well Woman Centre, for the outreach, educational and support work that they are doing with people who are suffering from this disease which can cause, amongst other things, chronic pain, infertility and loss of abdominal organs. 

Council notes it is estimated 1 in 7 people assigned female at birth around the world suffer from endometriosis, a disease which is as prevalent as asthma and diabetes in our local council area, and yet, they have access to only one clinic a month based in Altnagelvin Hospital and can wait up to ten years for a diagnosis and a further 3+ years for essential surgery. 

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Council gives its full support to these campaigners and will work with ESG to develop a plan of action for this March’s ‘Endometriosis Awareness Month’. 

Further, Council will write to the Health Minister for clarification on the Department of Health’s strategy to improve provisions for those suffering with Endometriosis in the Western Trust and to the Education Minister for clarity on the Department of Education’s strategy to educate all students, including boys, about menstrual health issues.

Explaining the phrase ‘people assigned female at birth’, Cllr Harkin explained the Endometriosis Support Group wrote the motion and they were “trying to be inclusive”.

“It is my understanding that people who don’t identify as women or girls can suffer from Endometriosis.”