One in four women in England have reproductive health issue, survey finds

Exclusive: Researchers estimate 10 million women have conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis and highlight racial disparities and access to care

More than a quarter of women in England are living with a serious reproductive health issue, according to the largest survey of its kind, and experts warn that “systemic, operational, structural and cultural issues” prevent women from accessing care.

The survey of 60,000 women across England in 2023, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and analysed by academics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, found that 28% of respondents were living with a reproductive morbidity, such as pelvic organ prolapse, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, or cervical, uterine, ovarian or breast cancer.