'One in Seven Women' - Louth Cllr raises endometriosis impact

Louth County Councillors have been told of the effects of endometriosis, which affects one in seven women. 

The issue was raised at the February meeting of Louth County Council by Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle Hall. 

She said most women who suffer with the condition are forced to go through private healthcare.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places. For example, the ovaries, the lining of the stomach and fallopian tubes.

Cllr Hall said 72% of women suffering with the condition have no written information on their diagnosis, 35% have reduced income and 12% miss exams. 

Cllr Hall said she will be making a presentation to the Minister for Health Jennifer Carrol MacNeill in early March on the issue. 

She said Louth's regional centre for endometriosis is the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. 

Read Next: People in Louth encouraged to make use of 'incredible' library service across the county

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Joanna Byrne told the Dáíl last year, that she is "inundated" with women contacting her with regards to the condition.

Deputy Byrne told the story of Gemma, a 32 year-old nurse from Louth who did not receive an endometriosis diagnosis until she moved to London. 

Gemma has since lost the function of her bladder and is in the care of a specialist pain team every 12 weeks. 

Minister Caroll MacNeill told the Dáil that there has been a "sheer lack of service delivery for women's health that has gone on for so long" and said there has been "many years of underinvestment in and under-recognition of women's health" in Ireland. 

Cllr Hall said there are currently two "super regional centres" in Tallaght and Cork. She added that 79% of women on the gynae waiting list are waiting less than six months, and there were 719 surgeries carried out last year. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.