“The current situation is completely unacceptable.” MS Jenny Rathbone told the crowd on Sunday’s march
CARDIFF’S tenth EndoMarch saw a yellow wave surge through the streets of Cardiff in a bid to get people talking about endometriosis.
The march, which took place on Sunday, was made up of people of all ages and genders, from women who suffer from endometriosis to their partners, children and friends.
Jenny Rathbone, Member of the Senedd for Cardiff Central, attended the march, like she has for the last five years.
“You will have seen today many of the women are in motorised scooters or have to walk with an aid and these are young women, and they should be in the prime of their life and they’re not,” said Mrs Rathbone, MS.
“In the last three years there is much more awareness of endometriosis certainly among the medical profession but there is increasingly an awareness in society,” she said.
The Women’s health plan for Wales was launched in December of 2024 and among the issues tackled by this is endometriosis.
“We now need to keep the government’s feet to the fire on delivering what is in the health plan, you need to keep up the pressure because the current situation is completely unacceptable,” said Mrs Rathbone, addressing the marchers.
“There’s more research going on into baldness in men than there is in endometriosis.”
In Wales it takes an average of 10 years to get a diagnosis which is the longest wait in the UK.
Symptoms of endometriosis include the following, and there is no cure.
- Pelvic pain
- Painful periods that interfere with everyday life
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pain during or after sex
- Painful bowel movements
- Pain when urinating
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Fatigue
- Feeling weak or fainting
- Aching legs
Organiser Alex Hazlehurst said: “Can you imagine living with that sort of pain and not knowing what’s causing it for that long, it’s absolutely unacceptable.
“We need more specialist doctors in Wales, we need better access to treatments, and we need to make sure that women can access the appropriate treatment to help manage their symptoms.”
The march was set up to change the way endometriosis is viewed in the UK and to get faster diagnosis times for the disease.
“Endometriosis doesn’t just take over your whole body.
“It steals your soul, it steals your right to become a mother, it steals relationships, it steals careers, it steals your freedom and your ability to live, it squeezes all the fun out of you and leaves you feeling dark and worthless,” said organiser Lucy Kazmi who is currently waiting for her seventh surgery.
Along with the bright colours of the march, the drumming of the Dhol Stars helped to grab attention.
Dhol Stars are made up of Dhan, Sahib and Jal Singh with the help of their parents and uncles Bob, Dave and Gurdev and were asked to join the march for a second year by organiser Julie Dixon.
The march will be back on the streets of Cardiff this time next year and their next event will be run with Endometriosis UK.
- The EndoMarch Wales Facebook page can be found here where details of the next March can be found.
