Petition title: Instruct NHS Wales to add Adenomyosis to its 111 A-Z webpages

Text of petition:

April is Adenomyosis Awareness Month and Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW) would like to see that awareness extend to NHS Wales. Adenomyosis is one of the most common menstrual health conditions – yet many have never heard of it.

Unlike NHS England and NHS Scotland, the NHS Wales 111 website A-Z does not feature adenomyosis, despite it affecting more than 1 in 10 women and people with a uterus - the same as the number of women living with diabetes or asthma!

FTWW calls on the Senedd to instruct NHS Wales to add Adenomyosis to its 111 A-Z webpages, so patients in Wales can access trusted information in English and Welsh, and aren't left behind patients in England or Scotland, for whom this information is already available.

Adenomyosis occurs when the lining of the uterus (womb) starts growing into the muscle in the wall of the womb. It is more commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 30 but can affect anyone who has periods. Symptoms can include very heavy and painful periods, bloating and a feeling of heaviness or fullness in the tummy, backache, upper leg ache, fatigue, and painful sex.

It's commonly seen alongside endometriosis; often when patients report having relief from symptoms after a hysterectomy, it's likely adenomyosis was the culprit - but many have no idea they had it and aren't given any information about it. We’d like that to change!

1. Background

Information about adenomyosis is now provided on the NHS 111 Wales website[PW1] . This includes information about symptoms and treatment options. The web page was updated on 24 April 2024.

Sioned Williams MS highlighted the petition in a 90-second statement[PW2] on 24 April 2024, saying:

patients, healthcare professionals and the wider community must have access to bilingual, accurate, accessible and official information, to not only raise awareness of adenomyosis, but to ensure that all are informed about the symptoms, treatments and symptom management options that are available.

During a Member debate on women’s healthcare[PW3] on 2 October 2024, it was noted that information on adenomyosis is now published.

The Welsh Government’s response to the Petitions Committee (dated 8 October 2024) confirms that:

Eluned Morgan MS, in her previous role of Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, asked for information about adenomyosis to be added to the NHS 111 website Health A-Z page on 23 April and this was completed the following day.

The information can be found at the following link: NHS 111 Wales - Health A-Z : Adenomyosis[PW4]

Every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this briefing is correct at the time of publication. Readers should be aware that these briefings are not necessarily updated or otherwise amended to reflect subsequent changes.