THE Royal Oldham Hospital is inviting local residents and trust members to a free talk to find out more about endometriosis.

It is one of a series of Medicine for Members events, which are intended to give local residents an insight into key elements of the hospital’s daily work.

The endometriosis talk will take place on Wednesday, May 8, between 2pm and 3pm in the education centre at the hospital.

The session will be led by lead consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Gaity Ahmad. It will look at what endometriosis is, why it is the leading cause of pelvic pain and how it can be effectively treated.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can affect women of any age, but it is most common in women in their 30s and 40s. It’s a long-term condition that can have a significant impact, but there are treatments that can help.

Endometriosis is the leading cause of pelvic pain and affects nearly 1.5 million women in the UK. There can often be a delay in diagnosing the condition of up to 7.5 years, as many women tend to suffer in silence with period pains and generalised pelvic pain.

It can be difficult to diagnose endometriosis because the symptoms can vary considerably, and many other conditions can cause similar symptoms. Figures show that one in ten women with pelvic pain are eventually diagnosed with endometriosis.

Dr Ahmad’s talk will look at how the multi-disciplinary endometriosis service at The Royal Oldham Hospital operates and how women can access the service by asking their GP to refer them to the Endometriosis Centre.

To book a place, contact Angela Greenwood, membership and public engagement manager on 01706 517302 or by e-mail: membership@pat.nhs.uk.

For any media enquiries, please contact Josie Neil, Communications and Engagement Lead on: 0161 6278703 or by e-mail: josie.neil@pat.nhs.uk.