Add gynaecological conditions e.g. Endometriosis to Equality Act 2010 Guidance
The Parliament petitions site records 110,767 signatures for this petition, which closed on 27 September 2026. The Government responded on 15 July 2026.
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.
Add gynaecological conditions e.g. Endometriosis to Equality Act 2010 Guidance
We call on the UK government to include gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, PCOS, PMDD, menopause & menstrual disorders as “impairments with fluctuating or recurring effects” in the Equality Act 2010 Guidance on the definition of disability (published in May 2011)
We think gynaecological conditions must be listed as impairments in the Equality Act 2010 Guidance on Disability. We believe this will ensure employees disabled by debilitating chronic conditions such as Endometriosis are supported with reasonable adjustments and protected against disability discrimination in the workplace by law.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 15 July 2026; the petitions site lists the Cabinet Office as responsible. Its summary:
While we do not plan to amend the statutory guidance, the Government is taking action to improve the support available to women experiencing symptoms from gynaecological conditions.
The opening 349 words of the 754-word response:
This Government recognises the difficulty and pain that some girls and women face in managing symptoms related to gynaecological conditions. We understand that menstrual or reproductive health issues can have a significant impact on some women’s physical and mental wellbeing, including their participation in the workforce.
The Government is taking action to improve the support available. This includes helping employers to take effective steps to support the health and wellbeing of their female employees, strengthening rights relating to sick leave and flexible working, and improving how the health system addresses gynaecological conditions.
The Equality Act 2010 (the Act)
Symptoms related to gynaecological conditions can be serious and have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a woman’s ability to carry out day-to-day activities. These symptoms can fall under the definition of disability in the Act. Women experiencing discrimination or harassment related to a gynaecological condition may be able to bring a claim on the grounds of sex and/or age.
Where an employee’s symptoms meet the definition of a disability, employers must take reasonable steps to avoid putting that employee at a substantial disadvantage compared to those who are not disabled.
Guidance on the Act’s definition of disability does not provide a comprehensive list of impairments that would meet its tests. Protection is not generally limited to specific conditions but instead depends on their effect. For the purposes of the Act, an impairment is the effect of any physical or mental condition and it is not necessary for the cause of the impairment to be established, nor does the impairment have to be the result of an illness. Any person that falls within this definition will be protected as having a disability. We therefore do not plan to amend the statutory guidance. However, the guidance is clear that a disability can arise from a wide range of impairments and the Act’s protections will apply wherever its tests are met.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/guidance/menopause-workplace-guidance-employers) and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (https://www.acas.org.uk/menopause-at-work/menopause-and-the-law) have produced guidance on menopause which sets out existing protections.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA)
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies. Measured against each constituency's electorate at the 2024 general election, the most came from Brighton Pavilion, with 7.3 signatures per 1,000 electors (548 in all).
110,175 of the signatures were from the UK and 592 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures | Electorate, July 2024 | Per 1,000 electors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton Pavilion | 548 | 74,786 | 7.3 |
| Hackney North and Stoke Newington | 543 | 77,812 | 7.0 |
| Hackney South and Shoreditch | 548 | 78,277 | 7.0 |
| Lewisham West and East Dulwich | 445 | 69,386 | 6.4 |
| Walthamstow | 478 | 74,474 | 6.4 |
| Islington North | 455 | 72,852 | 6.2 |
| Lewisham North | 432 | 74,205 | 5.8 |
| Dulwich and West Norwood | 416 | 74,259 | 5.6 |
| Tooting | 425 | 76,168 | 5.6 |
| Hornsey and Friern Barnet | 383 | 69,885 | 5.5 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| London | 21,354 |
| South East | 15,338 |
| North West | 12,176 |
| East of England | 10,736 |
| Scotland | 9,096 |
| South West | 8,536 |
| West Midlands | 7,689 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 7,455 |
| East Midlands | 6,334 |
| Wales | 5,132 |
| North East | 3,990 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,896 |
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/761186.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
49626226534597d8… - 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.