Wednesday 02 July 2003
Endometriosis affects around two million women in the UK, but a new MORI survey shows that awareness of the condition is low.
Only one in five people (20%) say they know something about the gynaelogical condition which can cause severe pain, fatigue, depression, sexual problems and infertility. Awareness is far lower than that of other conditions such as diabetes (77%), asthma (88%) and irritable bowel syndrome (52%). A third (34%) of people know something about sickle cell anaemia a condition that affects 6,000 Britons.
Topline Results
Technical details:
- 1,953 respondents aged 15+ across Great Britain
- Interviewed face-to-face in-home
- Between 5-10 June 2003
- An asterisk (*) indicates a percentage of less than 0.5% but greater than zero
- Data have been weighted to reflect the national profile
- Base all, unless otherwise stated
Q1 Which, if any, of the following conditions do you know something about?
| | % |
|---|
| Asthma | 83 |
| Crohn's Disease | 33 |
| Diabetes | 77 |
| Endometriosis | 20 |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | 52 |
| Hodgkin's Disease | 28 |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | 57 |
| Polycystic ovaries | 22 |
| Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS) | 53 |
| Sickle cell anaemia | 34 |
| |
| None of these | 8 |
| Don't know | * |
Q2 As far as you know, what is endometriosis?
Base: All who know about endometriosis (373)
| | % |
|---|
| A gynaecological condition | 19 |
| A condition that affects women | 22 |
| A condition that affects men | * |
| A condition that affects women's reproductive organs | 22 |
| The presence of endometrium/womb lining outside the womb | 53 |
| Cysts | 3 |
| Painful periods | 9 |
| Causes infertility | 5 |
| Causes pain | 8 |
| A skin condition | 1 |
| An illness/medical condition — not specified | 1 |
| An illness/medical condition — specified but not correct | 3 |
| |
| Other — non medical | * |
| Don't know | 9 |
Q3 Which, if any, of these groups is most likely to be affected by endometriosis?
Base: All who know about Endometriosis (excluding those who say don't know at Q2) (339)
| | % |
|---|
| Men of any age | 2 |
| Women of any age | 45 |
| Children | * |
| Teenagers | 3 |
| Men aged 20-45 | 2 |
| Men aged 45+ | 1 |
| Women aged 20-45 | 54 |
| Women aged 45+ | 13 |
| None of these | 0 |
| Don't know | 3 |
Q4 Who, if anyone, would you personally be most likely to discuss a gynaecological condition/problem such as endometriosis with?
Base: All women (1,013)
| | % |
|---|
| Husband/Partner | 15 |
| Mother | 13 |
| Daughter | 5 |
| Sister | 5 |
| Other female relative | 4 |
| Father | * |
| Brother | * |
| Son | * |
| Other male relative | * |
| Female friend | 12 |
| Male friend | 1 |
| Friend unspecified | 2 |
| Neighbour | * |
| Work colleague | 1 |
| Male GP/doctor | 14 |
| Female GP/doctor | 23 |
| GP/doctor unspecified | 43 |
| Male gynaecologist | 3 |
| Female gynaecologist | 4 |
| Gynaecologist unspecified | 8 |
| Male consultant/specialist | 1 |
| Female consultant/specialist | 1 |
| Consultant/specialist | 2 |
| Male Nurse | * |
| Female Nurse | 3 |
| Nurse unspecified | 2 |
| |
| Other health professional | 1 |
| Advice line | * |
| (Specialist advice line such as) BBC Action Line | * |
| Internet | 1 |
| Other | 1 |
| Would not discuss it with anyone | 1 |
| None of these | 2 |
| Don't know | 3 |