Education for Young People

Every young person should be able to recognise what is and isn’t normal for a menstrual cycle. Without this knowledge, menstrual health conditions including endometriosis will continue to go undiagnosed and stigma, shame, and silence surrounding menstrual health will persist.

Together we can end the silence, end the pain, and end the isolation for young people.

Delays to endometriosis diagnosis not only cost the NHS time and resources, but this can also impact educational attainment and well-being. Pupils with endometriosis are being left without the vital support and treatment they need at a crucial point in their lives.

Comprehensive menstrual health education for all

Following a campaign led by Endometriosis UK, menstrual health education became compulsory in schools in England as part of the RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) curriculum in 2020. However, it’s clear that more needs to be done to make sure no student leaves school unable to recognise the signs of a menstrual health condition.

While the guidance is mandatory, issues have been raised by schools about finding the time to cover it in depth, and many pupils are leaving school without the knowledge needed. 

Endometriosis UK’s recommendations for Government:

  • Update RSHE guidance and training for teachers so no student leaves school unable to recognise the signs of a menstrual health condition such as endometriosis.
  • Consider how compliance with the new guidance once published will be monitored.
  • Commit to a target of an average diagnosis time for endometriosis of 1 year or less by 2030.

What Endometriosis UK is doing to support young people in schools

Endometriosis UK is developing a teachers' resource pack to support the delivery of high-quality menstrual health education in schools. The pack will include a ready-to-use presentation slide deck, along with a range of interactive resources designed to enhance learning and engage students.

Alongside this, we have created a guide for parents and carers to help them support children experiencing difficult periods. The guide provides practical advice on recognising symptoms and supporting a child's physical and emotional wellbeing, both at school and at home.