Havant endometriosis sufferer wants to get equal care for all

Jodie Hughes, who lives in Havant, started Endometriosis South Coast last year after suffering from the condition, where tissue similar to the womb lining grows in other places and causes inflammation and pain, since she was 11.

The mum-of-one is determined to get equal care for all and raise awareness of who the condition affects.

The 36-year-old said: ‘Endometriosis affects lots of people not just middle-aged women and I want to make sure there is support and good care for everyone including those from the LGBTQ community, from BAME backgrounds and also younger women.

‘I have four new trustees and we just wanted to have more diversity and make sure we are helping everyone.’

The group organised a webinar with endometriosis sufferers Ryan McGil and Les Henderson, who are both from America.

Jodie said: ‘We reached out in the UK to hear from people about their different experiences of getting care but we had no one come forward as I think perhaps people are afraid to be among the first to speak out. We asked in some international groups and Ryan and Les came forward. We also had Samo White from Portsmouth on the webinar who is a trans activist.

‘They both do a lot of work raising awareness about care in the states so it was amazing that they could share their stories with us. I wasn’t shocked at what they had to say, as I am doing a PHD into care of different patients with endometriosis, but I think a lot of people on the session were and it was lovely at the end to see so many transgender people thanking both the speakers for sharing their stories and realising that they weren’t alone with how they were feeling.’

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Jodie is hoping the charity’s second year will see more webinars and fundraising to help with researching the condition.

She added: ‘Lockdown has been really hard for everyone and the people in our support group have really suffered and some of them have had operations cancelled and struggled to get appointments as the NHS had to deal with Covid-19. It isn’t anyone’s fault but it has had an impact.

‘I think in the new year we hope that we can get back to that face-to-face support and we plan to do more webinars as well.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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