Mary Lou McDonald calls for dedicated Endometriosis treatment centre and provision of excision surgery

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on the government to establish a dedicated Endometriosis treatment centre.

Describing Endometriosis as “a crisis in women’s health”, Ms McDonald said a multidisciplinary treatment centre must be staffed and resourced to provide specialised excision surgery along with the support services that women fighting this disease so badly need.

The Sinn Féin Leader was speaking at a public meeting on Endometriosis in Laois, organised by Senator Maria McCormack.

Teachta McDonald said:

“Endometriosis is a real crisis in women’s health in Ireland. Thousands of women face a nightmare of excruciating pain and trauma as they struggle to get a diagnosis, in the first place, and then appropriate treatment and care.

“We need a dedicated multidisciplinary endometriosis treatment centre staffed and resourced to provide specialised excision surgery – the only proven treatment for this agonising condition.

“The response of the government has been a disjointed stopgap approach with women being prescribed outdated treatments that only prolong their suffering. Women can wait for up to nine years for a diagnosis and many are forced to travel abroad to get the treatment needed.

“This shouldn’t be happening in 2025. Women should not be left living a life of pain. They should be able to access the healthcare they need here at home in Ireland.

“Tonight, in Laois we heard harrowing stories from brave women whose lives have been devastated by Endometriosis and by the lack of care. The consequences are heartbreaking. Young women have had to endure radical hysterectomies, women have lost organs, and many are forced into wheelchairs by the pain, their quality of life stolen from them.

“The women who addressed the meeting tonight are taking a stand so that other women do not have to go through what they experienced. Endometriosis is not rare. If you know ten women then you probably know a woman with this condition. The reason we don’t hear about it enough is because women often feel they have no option but to suffer in silence. This is now changing as courageous women step forward to share their stories and demand change and action from government.

“Our message to women across Ireland living the nightmare of Endometriosis is that you are not alone. We will fight with you and for you. We will keep this campaign going until you have the treatment, services and healthcare you deserve here in Ireland.”