As of: February 29, 2024, 1:43 p.m
By: Alina Schröder
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Endometriosis can make the working life of those affected a major challenge.
We talked to a young teacher about it.
“I have to call in sick for one or two days every month,” says Mia*.
She has known for two years that she has endometriosis.
The 27-year-old has been struggling with severe pain since she was at school, which continues to have a huge impact on her everyday life and job.
Always at the beginning of your period.
But it couldn't be normal period pain, Mia thought at the time.
So she went to several doctors with her symptoms, she tells
BuzzFeed News Germany,
a portal from
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
Several misdiagnoses were the reason that she stopped going to gynecologists at all, "because I was just so afraid of going there and having to hear again that endometriosis doesn't exist." One doctor even told her, that endometriosis “is just a mental illness.”
Around two million people in Germany suffer from endometriosis
Mia is not alone with the worries and fears that come with the illness.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 190 million people worldwide suffer from endometriosis - around two million of them in Germany (as of February 22, 2024).
It is a chronic disease in which tissue similar to the uterine lining appears outside the uterus.
The Endometriosis Association provides information about this.
It can therefore also settle in other organs, such as the ovaries, the intestines, the abdomen or, rarely, even the lungs.
The result is severe and varied pain as well as other complaints such as nausea or exhaustion, which is why misdiagnoses are not uncommon.
Severe flare-ups of endometriosis can lead to incapacity to work.
© M. Litzka/DALL·E (AI-generated)
The disease can have a significant impact on the fertility and childbearing ability of those affected.
According to a study, endometriosis is the cause in 40 to 50 percent of women who cannot fulfill their desire to have children.
More on the topic: Researchers achieve breakthrough in endometriosis treatment
Those affected face major hurdles in their jobs
“Everyday work presents special challenges for employees with endometriosis – increased absenteeism, limitations in performance and disease management are commonplace for those affected,” says Anja Moritz, Managing Director of the Endometriosis Association
BuzzFeed News Germany
.
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Moritz relies on an exploratory survey.
The result: More than 40 percent of the 2,500 participants stated that their symptoms severely or very severely impaired their everyday work, their performance and their ability to carry out job-related activities.
“Those affected saw the greatest relief from employers in flexible working conditions, for example working from home or flexible working hours.”
Anja Moritz, managing director of the Endometriosis Association, emphasizes that employees suffering from endometriosis are “severely disadvantaged” compared to their colleagues.
© Endometriosis Association
Teacher (27) is still keeping endometriosis a secret out of concern
Mia now knows how to balance endometriosis and her job as a teacher.
On at least two days a month, always at the beginning of her period, the pain was so severe that she had to call in sick from work.
Painkillers would get her through the days; classes were out of the question because of the cramps.
However, the pill gives her a certain level of planning security.
“I know when I get my period and then I call in sick.
But if I didn’t take the pill, it wouldn’t actually be compatible with the job.”
She has not yet told her employer about her illness.
The fear of not being made a civil servant is too great.
In general, the teacher did not confide this to any of her previous employers - and she is not planning on having an explanatory conversation in the near future either.
Unless the employer approaches them.
“Then I would talk about it openly, I can’t change the situation anyway.”
If that happens, she hopes that her superiors will react with understanding.
“I would like them to say, 'If you miss one or two days a month, then that's okay' and that it won't be taken with a grudge.” But especially when it comes to civil service for teachers, “everyone Characteristic that suggests that you will be out for the long term, a knockout criterion.”
More on the topic: 14 questions for someone affected by endometriosis
Endometriosis Association makes clear demands
In order to accommodate concerned employees, the Endometriosis Association considers an open and trusting culture of communication to be essential “in order to reveal the diagnosis without fear of disadvantage.” According to Moritz, that is exactly what the majority of those affected want – “with colleagues and employers and employers to talk about their diagnosis and thus work together to develop support options in the workplace.”
In order for something to change nationwide when it comes to endometriosis, a national strategy and awareness campaign must first be approved in the Bundestag.
Applications from the CDU/CSU and the Left were rejected last year.
From the point of view of the patient and self-help organization, the endometriosis debates can also be seen as a success.
Now more discussions are needed, “at least one government party must deal with the issue of endometriosis again in the form of an application to the federal government - and in a timely manner in order to reach a decision before the federal election in autumn 2025.”
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BuzzFeed News Germany
.
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can be found here .
“Those affected by endometriosis are at a great disadvantage at work compared to healthy people”
There is a lot of catching up to do in the world of work: “Those affected by endometriosis are at a severe disadvantage compared to healthy people in their careers - we cannot afford that given the massive shortage of skilled workers in Germany,” says Moritz.
However, a type of menstrual leave like the one that exists in Spain is rather unrealistic in this country because “people who are unable to work receive continued payment of wages from the first day of illness”.
“However, menstrual leave has the decisive advantage that the issue has moved more into the focus of the public and, above all, employers.
It is recognized that menstruation can be accompanied by severe symptoms and that those affected are therefore unable to work,” explains Moritz.
Based on her experiences with various doctors, one thing is particularly important to Mia: “You should start with the gynecologists; they should be better trained so that they are more understanding.” This could allay some of the fear of many of those affected.
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*Name changed. The real name is known to the editors.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editorial team cannot answer individual questions about medical conditions.