Women’s Health

Although women in the UK on average live longer than men, women spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health and disability when compared with men.

There are disparities in access to services and health outcomes that stem from economic and geographical disparities – for example, differences in life expectancy across socioeconomic groups.

My menopause symptoms are really debilitating, and I need more intervention than anti-depressant prescriptions.

Human Papilloma Virus

82.7% 12-13 year old girls in Essex and 41.7% in Suffolk have had one dose of HPV vaccine, and 77.3% in Essex and 51.5% in Suffolk have received two doses (2020/21)

Menstrual health

There are 15 million woman who of menstrual age in the UK, and around 250,000 in SNEE – A woman will menstruate for an equivalent duration of 6.5 years of her life.

Period poverty – one in ten of all women, and 15% of 16 – 24-year-olds, say they cannot always afford tampons or pads.

more than 1 in 5 women in a relationship feel uncomfortable talking to their partner about period pain (22%), PMT (23%) or their period flow (25%)

Gynaecological conditions

Fibroids – Around 1 in 3 people who menstruate develop them at some point in their life.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – affects around 1 in 10 women and is the most common cause of infertility in women.

Endometriosis – 1 in 10 women are affected by endometriosis

Breast Cancer

Screening cover – 73% Suffolk, 61.5% Essex – Only 50% in Colchester, significantly lower than England (64.1%)

Cervical cancer

Both Essex and Suffolk better than England average for cervical screening (73.5% and 73.8% respectively)

Menopause 

Every woman – except for those who’ve had their ovaries removed before puberty – will go through menopause. There are almost 82,000 women aged 45-55 in SNEE

Urogenital atrophy affects up to 1 in 3 women, most often during or after menopause, when the cells in the vagina are most lacking in hydration and cervix lubrication decreases – it is estimated that almost half of post-menopausal women experience vaginal atrophy.

Osteoporosis 

Around one in ten people will suffer from the condition in some form. Anyone can get osteoporosis but women are about four times more likely than men to develop it

Risk factor for fractures – 1,414 hip fractures treated in SNEE hospitals 2021

Mental health

women (19%) are more likely than men to report an experience of common mental health condition – women 19%, men 12%

Over a quarter (26%) of young women aged between 16–24 years old report having a common mental health problem in any given week. This compares to 17% of adults. And this number has been going up

Women are more likely to use self-harm as a coping strategy then men

The Women’s Mental Health Taskforce report in 2018 highlighted a range of issues including:

Women who are parents or carers do not always have the right mental health support:

• Post-partum – less specific provision for women with older children, women who are immediately beyond the perinatal period, and women without children.
• Crisis – Many did not seek help until in crisis due to fear of being judged or having their children removed.
• Those separated from their children – little support to cope with their grief or to maintain contact.
• Carers – role is not recognised sufficiently by mental health services.

Impact of gender-based violence is not sufficiently recognised by mental health services:

• Over half of women who have lived with physical or sexual violence have a common mental disorder; a third have attempted suicide.
• PTSD is higher in black women: they experience higher rates of sexual assaults that they but are less likely to report or seek help for assaults or trauma.
• Complex PTSD can be misdiagnosed as other conditions, leading to the wrong treatments or associated stigmas.
• Women needing refuge may be turned away due to their physical health, mental health or substance misuse needs.

Impact of violence

One in five women has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16

Lower rate of hospital admissions for violent crime (including sexual violence) than England (41.9 per 100,000). Tendring at  31.5 per 100,000 and Ipswich at 31.4 per 100,000 are highest in SNEE

Coercive control or pressure is used much more frequently by partners than physical force, as 16% of girls having been raped using pressure and coercion and 6% have been raped using physical force

The survey that directly influenced the government’s Women’s Health Strategy 2022 found that women say they need:

• High quality information:

o8% of respondents felt that they had access to enough information on gynaecological conditions, such as endometriosis and fibroids

o 17% of respondents felt that they had enough information on menstrual wellbeing

o14% of respondents felt they had enough information on gynaecological cancers, dropping to 5% of respondents aged 16 to 17, and 7% of respondents aged 18 to 25.

• To be listened to – it can take months or years to get a diagnosis.
• Their symptoms to be recognised as important – for example women are told that their painful or heavy periods, or incontinence after childbirth are normal and to be accepted.
• Not to be stigmatised – period stigma can impact on participation in education or work, and period poverty impacts on mental wellbeing and dignity.

• Research Showed that over 4 in 5 women (85%) feel, or are perceived to feel, comfortable talking to healthcare professionals about general physical health concerns. This falls to less than 3 in 5 women when discussing mental health conditions (59%).
• the proportion of women who felt (or were perceived to) feel comfortable talking to professionals was:
• 77% for menstrual wellbeing
• 72% for gynaecological cancers
• 71% for gynaecological conditions
• 64% for the menopause

 

• More than 4 in 5 (84%) went on to say there have been times when they (or the woman they had in mind) were not listened to by healthcare professionals.

Women’s Health Strategy for England August 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Results of the ‘Women’s Health – Let’s talk about it’ survey – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Menstruation Facts and Figures — AHPMA

New survey shows a lack of period knowledge across the UK, as WaterAid launches #PeriodProud campaign | WaterAid UK

Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

Verity – The UK PCOS Charity – Verity PCOS UK (verity-pcos.org.uk)

Prevalence | Background information | Endometriosis | CKS | NICE

Osteoporosis | Causes, symptoms, treatment | Versus Arthritis

National Hip Fracture Database Annual Report 2021 – data.gov.uk

Data on violence against women and girls | End Violence Against Women

Suffolk Mind and Suffolk Libraries – Menopause and Me Project

iCaSH (Integrated Contraception and Sexual Health Service) Understanding Menopause

Green Light Trust – Earth – Womens Wellbeing