Diana raises Endometriosis on International Women's day in a speech to the European Parliament

10.00.00am GMT Tue 9th Mar 2010

To coincide with International Women's day (8th March) and the start of Endometriosis Awareness Week across Europe, Diana Wallis MEP raised the issue of Endometriosis in a speech to the European Parliament. In the speech she called for the debilitating illness to be taken more seriously.

The following day 'The Guardian' carried a letter from Diana on the subject.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/09/endometriosis-hilary-mantel-women-health

Speaking in Strasbourg Diana said:

"Mr President, it being International Women's Day I wanted to raise a particular female health issue which persistently remains a Cinderella issue. I stood here two, maybe three years ago talking about a silent, unseen, painful and debilitating female illness - endometriosis: an illness which destroys lives, families and fertility; you see some women do not even have the chance to be mothers. Maybe it is because it is about women's menstruation that we do not want to talk about it; do not even want to name it. So I will say it again - endometriosis.

It still has no known cause, still no known cure and still affects up to one in every ten women and rising. This week is also Endometriosis Awareness Week across Europe. So, when are we going to take those women, their families and their sufferings seriously? It is good that you are here, Commissioner, to hear this; perhaps proper dedicated funding - and, I hope, before next year."