An increasing number of Britons understand endometriosis and would like to support people with the disease, however, research by Endometriosis UK has found that many people are still not comfortable discussing the issue at work.
The charity’s survey of 2,000 people found that 37 percent said they would be comfortable discussing periods or menstrual health with colleagues. However, 32 percent said they would be uncomfortable, with a further third undecided. Figures vary little between male and female respondents, the charity said.
When asked about whether they would be comfortable discussing the disease with a partner 76 percent said they would be comfortable. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) said they would be comfortable talking about it with friends, 51 percent with parents or guardians, and 48 percent with other relatives.
However, further data shows that while many respondents say they would be comfortable with the topic in theory, the picture is different in practice.
In response to another survey question, just 11 percent of men and 20 percent of women said that they have open conversations with colleagues about periods and menstrual health.
But the charity reiterated that the UK public is increasingly switched on to endometriosis – in this year’s survey, 65 percent of respondents (82 percent of women and 47 percent of men) recognised it as a gynaecological health condition from a list of options. This is an improvement from 53 percent in 2024 and 49 percent in 2023.
Respondents were asked how they would respond if a colleague told them they had endometriosis, or how they did respond if this had actually happened to them. Nearly two-fifths (39 percent) said they would suggest ways to ask for appropriate support, while 21 percent said they felt able to support someone, and 17 percent said they knew of a relevant HR policy or support service they could access. As many as 13 percent said they would worry about it negatively impacting a colleague’s performance.
The charity said it was pleased that few respondents chose more defensive or negative reactions in response to being told a colleague had endometriosis. Only 6 percent warned the person against telling their line manager, 3 percent said they wouldn’t want to discuss the topic, and 2 percent said they would be embarrassed to talk about it.
In response to the findings, the charity urged employers to help tackle stigma around periods and change workplace culture. Its ‘Endometriosis Friendly Employer’ scheme can help businesses navigate the issue, and employer members already include British Airways, AO, Powys Council, Hargreaves Lansdown and the NHS Western Isles.
Tracey van Gemeren, an endometriosis champion at British Airways, said: “I have always been very open about a lot of areas of my endometriosis, but I know that many people aren’t necessarily as comfortable, and that this can vary among different communities and cultures.
“As part of British Airway’s wellbeing measures, and as an endometriosis champion, we make sure that there are designated discrete, quiet spaces in the office where people can go to discuss something they find sensitive, to ensure people feel empowered to find the right way to raise topics which they might find tricky to talk about across an office.
“And of course, on top of being able to discuss topics like endometriosis, it’s important that leaders and line managers know how to respond – this disease impacts everyone differently, so you should never make assumptions, and you need to have knowledge of what to do next, and what support you can provide.”
March is Endometriosis Action Month. The charity urged employers to continue to promote openness and understanding around endometriosis and other menstrual health conditions.
The facts
Endometriosis is a chronic, long-term condition impacting one in ten women and people assigned female at birth, with symptoms including chronic pelvic pain, painful periods and fatigue. Symptoms vary in severity from person to person, treatments are limited, and there is no cure.
Various factors, including stigma around menstrual health, mean that diagnosis takes an average of eight years and ten months in the UK.
