‘No young woman should be left in pain without answers’ says Louth TD
“Like many women, I suffered with pain for years before I understood what was happening,” says Louth TD Erin McGreehan, as she welcomed the rollout of a new national endometriosis awareness initiative by the HSE.
The programme, known as MISE — Menstrual Information Specialising in Endometriosis — will be delivered by two newly appointed education officers. It aims to improve understanding of menstrual health and endometriosis in schools, sports clubs and workplaces across the country.
Deputy McGreehan said better education is essential to tackling longstanding gaps in women’s healthcare.
“When I first entered Leinster House as a senator in 2020, issues such as endometriosis, fertility, reproductive health and miscarriage were barely spoken about,” she said. “That has changed significantly in recent years, but there is still more work to do.”
She added that she first began to suspect she had endometriosis only after turning to the internet.
“It was Dr Google that first pointed me towards what my symptoms might mean. That should not be the case anymore.”
Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body, including the pelvic cavity, ovaries, bladder, bowel and ureters. The World Health Organisation estimates that one in ten women of reproductive age live with the disease.
Symptoms can include severe menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea and difficulties with fertility. It can also affect bowel movements, urination, sexual intercourse and mental health. Stage four represents the most advanced and severe form of the disease.
The Fianna Fail TD said the new awareness programme is a crucial step towards earlier diagnosis and better treatment.
“Educational programmes like this are essential in helping young girls and women understand their bodies better. They also send an important message that women do not have to suffer in silence, and that their pain should never be ignored.”
She said older generations grew up in an environment where women’s pain was dismissed or normalised.
“The pain that many women in my generation experienced was often dismissed or misunderstood, and we were simply told to cope with it. That should not be the experience of young girls today.”
The Louth TD said initiatives like MISE will help women recognise symptoms earlier and seek proper medical support.
“By helping young women understand their bodies better, we are giving them the knowledge and confidence to expect better healthcare. We must ensure that the treatments they need are not elusive but accessible here in Ireland.”
The new HSE programme forms part of ongoing national efforts to improve women’s health services, diagnosis times and access to treatment for endometriosis.