Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Endometriosis Education in Schools

21 May 2024 · 4 other contributors · 8,447 words

Opened by Alec Shelbrooke Con Wetherby and Easingwold

Responding minister: Damian Hinds

EducationWomen & Equalities

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Alec Shelbrooke raised concerns about endometriosis education in schools in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Mr Shelbrooke raised concerns about low awareness of endometriosis despite its significant impact on women's health.
  • He called on the government to include endometriosis education in the national curriculum.
  • The Minister highlighted the Government's 25 million investment to establish women's health hubs focusing on endometriosis care.

Key requests to Government

Mr Shelbrooke asks the Minister to prescribe the teaching of endometriosis in the national curriculum for September. He seeks guidance on when health professionals will consider including this education in school curriculums, particularly before menstruation begins.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Alec Shelbrooke Con Wetherby and Easingwold

Mr Shelbrooke is concerned about the lack of awareness regarding endometriosis, a disease affecting millions of women. He cited an e-petition that only gained 3,105 signatures despite the condition impacting numerous individuals. The MP highlighted significant physical and emotional symptoms such as severe menstrual cramps, back pain, infertility, and increased risk of various cancers. He also emphasized the social impacts like isolation from friends and family due to misunderstandings and stigma.

Other contributors (4)
  • Caroline Nokes Con Romsey and Southampton North

    I am concerned about the use of terms like 'women's problems' as they avoid an informed, intelligent discussion. I agree with the need to educate on reproductive health without boundaries. Caroline Nokes apologised for not delving deeply into the recently released guidance, emphasising that while this debate focuses on endometriosis, other menstrual health issues such as pre-menstrual stress syndrome (PMSS) and adenomyosis should also be addressed. She highlighted the importance of teaching young girls about a range of conditions to help them recognise what is normal and seek support when needed.

  • Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North

    Ms McKinnell highlighted the importance of educating young people about endometriosis and menstrual health, emphasizing that nearly one in ten women in the UK suffer from it. She noted the disease's impact on mental health, fertility, and overall wellbeing beyond just physical pain. Ms McKinnell called for an expert-led curriculum review to ensure inclusivity and relevance in education, stressing the need for adequate teacher recruitment.

  • Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

    Emma Hardy expressed concern over the government's latest sex and relationship guidance, which removes a reference to menstruation from the primary school curriculum. She pointed out that some girls start their periods as young as eight but may not receive education on it until later years. Additionally, she advocated for the importance of educating both boys and girls about periods and suggested that endometriosis should be covered in schools due to its prevalence—about 10% or three or four girls per classroom—and its impact on academic performance during exam seasons.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    I support highlighting endometriosis and believe in educating people about it openly rather than through closed doors. My staff member's experience shows that diagnosis can take too long, leading to years of pain and uncertainty.

Government Response

Damian Hinds

May I say what a pleasure it is to see you in the Chair, Ms Vaz? I think this is the first time I have spoken under your chairship. I join others in congratulating my right hon. Friend the Member for Elmet and Rothwell on securing this important debate. The Government are making women's health a top priority with a £25 million investment to establish women's health hubs, which improve access to services including endometriosis care. We have created an NHS website area with over 100 pages of information on periods and endometriosis, launched a video series on endometriosis on the NHS YouTube channel, and ran a national media campaign encouraging women not to suffer in silence. The updated draft RSHE guidance includes menstrual health teaching from year 4 onwards, specifically including endometriosis for secondary school pupils. Schools must have regard to this statutory guidance and can only deviate with good reason. Ofsted will inspect schools on their delivery of the RSHE curriculum as part of their personal development judgment. The guidance is out for consultation and we expect a lot of public interest; analysis will take place over the summer, with publication soon after. Schools require time to implement changes but can deliver new content immediately if ready. We have invested more than £3 million in teacher training modules, non-statutory guidance, train-the-trainer programmes, and teacher webinars on domestic violence, pornography, and sexual exploitation.

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