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Emily Griffiths, a 26-year-old woman from Carmarthenshire, is seeking an operation to remove her womb, or a hysterectomy, to alleviate symptoms of endometriosis and adenomyosis that have left her in debilitating pain. However, she claims that doctors are unwilling to carry out the procedure due to her age and lack of children. Griffiths hopes that a hysterectomy could give her a chance to move without support and return to a more normal life.
Griffiths has suffered painful and heavy periods since age 12, and was only diagnosed with endometriosis at age 21 after contracting sepsis. The wait for treatment was so long that her family paid for a private operation. Now left housebound by her symptoms, Griffiths has been given a monthly injection to chemically induce menopause with the aim of reducing her symptoms, but scans show that this has caused her bone density to deteriorate.
While a hysterectomy would leave Griffiths infertile and subjected to risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and dementia owing to the menopause, it is listed as one of the treatment options by NICE for endometriosis and adenomyosis. Griffiths would need an endometriosis specialist to carry out the procedure because it would involve excision of the endometriosis due to the complexity of her case.
Griffiths believes that doctors prioritize her potential fertility over her current state, prohibiting her from making decisions over her own body. She has received recognition from King William and the Princess of Wales for her work to raise awareness regarding chronic conditions and disabilities.
There are two accredited NHS endometriosis centres in Wales, and while the Swansea clinic has yet to accept patients from outside the health board area, Cardiff said that it considers outside referrals “where appropriate”. Patients seeking follow-up care and advice must also pay. The Welsh government has stated that women’s health has been a key priority and is working on a 10-year women’s health plan that should improve endometriosis care, treatment, and support throughout the country
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