A promising new clinical trial has been announced in the battle to treat a condition that blights many. But what impact will this have on those students whose education is continuously disrupted by Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Approximately 1 in 10 people with a womb suffer from the condition. Stigmatisation of this and similar conditions means that it can be embarrassing for sufferers. Many also have debilitating symptoms, preventing them from going about their daily lives.
Endometriosis can be so disruptive, that some universities (such as the University of Warwick) recognise it as a disability for their students. The university mentions the “fatigue” and “difficulty in fulfilling work and social commitments” which could impact their students’ education.
A recent study even suggests that daily endometriosis disruption “may translate into limitations in achieving life goals such as pursuing or completing educational opportunities.”
Some people with the condition are forced to miss classes or even exams due to the condition. Furthermore, sufferers fall victim to continued misdiagnoses and failing treatment options due to a lack of research.
Clinical Trial
However, a new clinical trial involving a non-hormonal, non-surgical treatment drug called ‘dichloroacetate’ has proved to be promising.
Janet Lindsey, chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, states that this breakthrough has been “long overdue”. There is hope that this will contribute to the equity of women in education, dismantling barriers that might prevent women from achieving their academic goals.
Sharing Her Story
TV star, and daughter of late wildlife expert Steve Irwin, Bindi Irwin, 24, has revealed that she has suffered with symptoms for 10 years.
Irwin claims that “every part of [her] life was getting torn apart because of the pain.”
It is hoped that, with this latest breakthrough, the suffering of so many women in silence will ultimately be at an end.
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