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A 30-year-old Ipswich woman has criticised the recent approval of a "groundbreaking" endometriosis treatment, claiming it's merely a repackaged version of existing therapies.
Why it matters: Over 1.5 million women in the UK suffer with endometriosis, with most waiting between five and eight years for diagnosis, according to Amy Peckham-Driver, who shares her own decade-long battle with the disease.
The big picture: The newly approved drug Relugolix is being touted as revolutionary for endometriosis treatment in England, but Peckham-Driver calls it a "sticking-plaster stopgap" that only masks symptoms rather than eliminating the disease.
How it works: Relugolix functions by "essentially shutting down the ovaries and placing women into a chemical menopause," she explains, noting the pill includes "add back" hormonal therapy to offset some menopause-related side effects.
Almost 3,000 Suffolk women diagnosed with endometriosis amid long waiting times
New figures reveal 2,875 women in Suffolk have been diagnosed with endometriosis over the past decade, but experts warn many more could be suffering in silence due to lengthy diagnosis delays.
What they're saying: According to Peckham-Driver, the drug "comes with a nasty list of potential side effects" including kidney and liver damage, migraines, hot flushes, abnormal vaginal bleeding, hair loss, mood issues, suicidal ideation, and loss of bone density.
"It looked like a bomb had gone off in her pelvis," she quotes her surgeon saying after her private surgery at age 27, describing her as "one of the worst cases he'd seen in his thirty-year career."
For context: Endometriosis tissue creates its own estrogen supply, meaning it can fuel itself even if ovarian activity has been suppressed, which is why hormonal treatments often fail.
By the numbers: Amy waited until she was 27 for an official diagnosis despite symptoms starting in "early high school," representing the lengthy diagnostic journey many endometriosis patients face.
The bottom line: "Promoting Relugolix as a miracle drug when, at best, it's only going to mask symptoms, is deceitful and irresponsible, and endometriosis patients deserve better," she concluded.
What's next: Amy will be sharing more about her experience at Suffolk's first ever women's health conference, "Let's Talk Women's Health," at The Hold in Ipswich on Saturday, 22 March 2025.
Let's Talk Women's Health
A day of interactive workshops, expert-led seminars and empowering discussions about all things women's health.
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