Carla Cressy Testifies to UK Endometriosis Inquiry as 1 in 6 Women Leave Work
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 19
Carla Cressy Testifies to UK Endometriosis Inquiry as 1 in 6 Women Leave Work
1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 19
Summary
Carla Cressy told a UK workplace inquiry that years of undiagnosed endometriosis left her collapsing at work, feeling “unemployable,” and eventually needing bladder reconstruction and a total hysterectomy.
Diagnosed only at 25 after doctors wrongly removed her appendix, Cressy said delayed treatment let the disease progress into frozen pelvis, destroying her reproductive organs and forcing her to consider surrogacy.
The inquiry is examining a condition that campaigners say pushes women out of jobs, with an estimated 1 in 6 leaving work and no specific UK legal protection for menstrual health-related time off.
Other women described similar workplace strain and medical dismissal: Abi Smith said she vomited at work before diagnosis at 21, while Monica Thomas now faces lung, bowel and pelvic surgery after years of being unheard.
Psychotherapist Sula Windgassen said repeated disbelief amounts to medical misogyny that worsens health and employment outcomes, while the NHS said patients should be diagnosed under NICE guidance and can access women’s health hubs.
With endometriosis forcing one in six women from work, what is the true cost of ignoring this condition?
How can a healthcare system built on a 'male default' be reformed to finally believe women's pain?
Will new saliva tests finally end the devastating diagnostic delays for millions of women with endometriosis?
Endometriosis and Employment in the UK: How Policy, Stigma, and Delayed Diagnosis Cost Women and the Economy
Overview
The UK is taking major steps to improve support for women with endometriosis at work, as shown by the ongoing parliamentary inquiry led by the All-Party Parliamentary Group. A recent evidence session highlighted that while some good practices exist, they mostly rely on individuals with lived experience and voluntary efforts, revealing a lack of formal, systemic support. Hearing directly from women made clear that their experiences are often ignored or misunderstood. This inquiry aims to move beyond voluntary actions and push for robust, mandated frameworks to ensure better recognition and support for employees affected by endometriosis.