Birmingham's under-diagnosis of women's reproductive health - via The Briti

It is estimated that 1 in 8 women in the UK will experience infertility through problems with their gynaecological health. 

Birmingham's population of women above working age but below pension age is estimated to be around 368,356. There are currently 2059 women being treated by Birmingham Hospitals for reproductive and endocrine illnesses between the ages of 14 and 50. 

The expected number of women to be treated for these problems is 46032. The number of women who have been diagnosed and treated is a mere 4.5% of that.

Why is the diagnosis rate so low?

The diagnosis rate could be this low for a few reasons:

1. Women struggle to come forward because of the stigma against 'gynae-health'

The topic of women's gynaecological health is sexualised in many ways. Many people view 'gynae-health' as nothing more than checking for STI's and pregnancy. There is also the stigma from some religions about the use of the contraceptive pill which can be used for more than birth control. It can be used to treat women with hormonal disorders that are disrupting their health. This leads many people to believe that women with these issues are "sexually promiscuous" which is obviously false. 

Women are also made to feel as though they are less of a woman because of their struggles with high levels of male androgens that wreak havoc on the female body. 

There has been a lot of stress on the fact that women need to get smears recently which is absolutely right. It was reported earlier this year that 1 in 3 women don't attend their mandatory smear test. This test is understandably uncomfortable but it is in place to help catch reproductive cancers early. 

2. GPs don't have the specialist training to recognise symptoms

GPs aren't all aware of the signs and symptoms of a gynaecological problem, particularly in young women or women who aren't TTC. It can sometimes take women years to get the diagnosis which will help them understand why their bodies aren't working the way they should.

Every woman is different, even when their hormones are normal so any hormonal abnormalities will also effect them differently. Every woman has a different 'cocktail' of symptoms and will need treatment that is personal to them.

The best people to see for a diagnosis is a Gynaecologist or Reproductive Specialist. They will have more of an understanding of each of the illnesses and be able to give you the correct help.

Most GPs dismiss the symptoms in young women as PMDD. PMDD or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is a condition in which the female body has an abnormal reaction to hormonal changes and causes severe depression and irritability in women before menstruation. This disorder also causes acne and fatigue which are symptoms that are commonly linked with PCOS an Insulin Resistance. A GP would usually treat this with a contraceptive pill.

3. Funding 

Since 2015 the govenment have made significant cuts to family planning and sexual health services in the NHS. They are now primarily stocking up on Rivegidon combined contraceptive pill as it is the cheapest brand available to the NHS. Unfortunately, not all women can be treated with the same pill which could cause problems.

Also, with these cuts to funding it means access to these services are more restricted so not all women will be able to get treatment until a GP deems it absolutely urgent for a referral. Doctors are more likely to refer you to a specialist department once they think you are 'old enough' or if you have been trying to conceive for a while with very little success.

4. Girls are told they will just 'grow out of it'

Teenage girls who show signs of gynaecological issues are highly likely to be told that they will just 'grow out of it.' This is all to do with the GP mistaking it for PMDD as they feel as though the girls' bodies will need to get used to the hormonal changes that they are going through during puberty.

This maybe right in some cases but tests need to be carried out to ensure their hormones are in fact that of a normal teenage girl. If they are producing a higher level of testosterone this can be a sign of PCOS or Endometriosis. 

Do you think you could have a problem with your reproductive health?

Take this quiz to check some of the most common symptoms that women experience when suffering from reproductive health issues. If you answer yes to most of these, please see your GP to seek help.

Getting a diagnosis is important because issues with your reproductive health can have catastrophic effects on the body in later life. Weight problems caused by certain gynaecological conditions can lead to Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. 

How has a diagnosis changed the lives of women with 'gynae-health' issues?

Birmingham City University student, Shauna Haselwood was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome during her teenage years and thinks that getting that diagnosis when spotting the symptoms helped her understand her body and how it works.

Haselwood said: "Growing up I was always concerned about not being normal because I didn't really have periods or I had hair on my face when it seemed like other girls didn’t and I didn’t understand why.

“However, when I got my diagnosis of PCOS it helped me understand why certain things about me were different to others and I became more accepting of the symptoms associated with the condition, improving my self-esteem and body image.

“I was able to manage certain symptoms more effectively by understanding what caused them. This is why a diagnosis is important because it means we can understand what’s actually happening to our bodies rather than thinking certain aspects aren’t normal.

“I feel it opens up more opportunities for support as you can relate to other people with the same condition and they understand what you are going through when others might not and that’s really important."

How can charities help you after your diagnosis?

Cysters is a charity based in Birmingham that aims to support women who are struggling with their reproductive health. Founded by Neelam Heera, almost three years ago, Cysters has become a great success in helping women with issues such as PCOS, Endometriosis, Vaginimus and reproductive cancers.

Find out more about Cysters on their website, Facebook page or join their private support group.