Increase funding for research into Endometriosis and PCOS.
This petition gathered 101,910 signatures between 29 July 2020 and 29 January 2021, according to the Parliament petitions site. The Government responded on 24 August 2020. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 1 November 2021.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Increase funding for research into Endometriosis and PCOS.
Endometriosis and PCOS are two gynaecological conditions which both affect 10% of women worldwide, but both are, in terms of research and funding, incredibly under prioritised. This petition is calling for more funding, to enable for new, extensive and thorough research into female health issues.
Many women seldom get the medical attention they require, or frequently have their symptoms miscalculated.
Due to personal experience, we are aware that the average time taken for a full diagnosis for endometriosis is 7 1/2 years in the UK.
A cure for these conditions has not yet been found.
It is important to us to start a conversation, to hopefully achieve funding to eventually find a cure for these conditions, or find more legitimate ways of treating symptoms.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 24 August 2020; the petitions site lists the Department of Health and Social Care as responsible. Its summary:
The Government recognises the importance of research into endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. The Government is funding a broad range of research through its funding organisations.
The opening 398 words of the 665-word response:
The Government is aware of and sympathises with the hardships faced by women who experience severe symptoms from conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. While treatment is available, NHS England highlight that symptoms for both conditions vary widely, including in terms of severity. It is therefore important to seek clinical advice if women notice symptoms about which they have concern.
The Government funds medical research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research Innovation (UKRI). In the last five financial years to 2019-20, the NIHR and UKRI have awarded £8.52m for research into endometriosis and £6.60m for research into polycystic ovary syndrome. This includes a wide range of projects from basic science through to applied health research into diagnosis, treatment and service delivery.
Examples of research includes: a project, hosted by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research, examining what happens in primary care when women consult with endometriosis-like symptoms in order to start addressing delays in diagnosis and treatment and lead to improvement in care for women; and a randomised controlled trial exploring the use of two different treatment options for women with polycystic ovary syndrome whose eggs do not release from their ovaries to determine the most effect effective drug, or combination of drugs, needed to ensure women are offered the best available care with minimum side effects and spared the need for more invasive and costly fertility treatments. Other Government-funded research includes studies to investigate new therapeutics, the genetic basis for polycystic ovary syndrome, clinical prediction models of whether surgery will be successful for endometriosis, pain management trials and research to improve reproductive outcomes for women with these conditions.
The NIHR engages and involves patients, carers and the public in all the processes by which research is identified, prioritised, designed, conducted, evaluated and disseminated to improve the reach, quality and impact of the funded research. Women with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome play a vital role in the research identified above.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 534, came from Colne Valley.
101,496 of the signatures were from the UK and 414 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Colne Valley | 534 |
| Dewsbury | 428 |
| Huddersfield | 364 |
| Livingston | 344 |
| East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow | 336 |
| Bristol West | 332 |
| Brighton, Pavilion | 330 |
| West Ham | 311 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 294 |
| Lewisham, Deptford | 292 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| London | 14,736 |
| South East | 13,869 |
| East of England | 10,670 |
| Scotland | 10,577 |
| North West | 9,473 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 9,008 |
| West Midlands | 7,381 |
| South West | 7,032 |
| East Midlands | 6,452 |
| Wales | 4,300 |
| North East | 2,833 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,701 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 1 November 2021. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/328570.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
fd3e6b5912df9520… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.