More than two thirds of women in London with PCOS or endometriosis (68%) say hormonal contraception masked their symptoms and delayed diagnosis – leaving them struggling with fertility, battling exhausting symptoms and facing uncertainty about starting a family.
According to the new study from TFP Fertility, tell-tale signs like irregular periods, heavy bleeding and painful cycles are often dismissed as side effects of the pill or other contraceptives, allowing underlying conditions to go unnoticed for years.
The impact is even greater among younger women, with the research showing more than four in five (81%) of those aged 25-34 across the UK believe contraception delayed their diagnosis.
What’s more, 63% of women in London say that living with PCOS or endometriosis has forced them to change their plans for having children. Over a quarter (27%) felt pressure to start a family earlier than intended, while another 26% delayed parenthood and 11% have decided not to have children at all.
For those who did try to conceive, the process was often long and gruelling. Almost half (46%) managed to conceive naturally, but only after much longer than expected, while over a quarter (27%) required fertility treatment such as IVF to achieve a chance at parenthood.
Delays to diagnosis remain a major barrier. Most women with PCOS are diagnosed between 18 and 34 (84%), yet for endometriosis almost a third (29%) weren’t diagnosed until after the age of 35 – a critical time for family planning.
For many, the delayed diagnosis has had life-changing consequences, according to the research.
Beyond fertility, symptoms of PCOS and endometriosis can take a heavy toll on daily life. Mood changes, anxiety and depression were the most common symptoms suffered by those with the conditions (54%), followed by irregular or absent periods (48%), weight gain (45%) and excess hair growth (34%).
While many women say they have thought about fertility preservation, very few have been able to act on it. Almost half (45%) said they have considered egg freezing, yet only 8% have actually taken the step, with cost, limited public funding and lack of awareness all being likely barriers.
Strikingly, 92% of women feel there isn’t enough public awareness or support around PCOS, endometriosis and fertility, according to the latest research.
TFP Fertility is working to change this by offering a range of treatment options for women with PCOS and endometriosis, including egg freezing, IVF and prescribed medicines such as Clomifene and Letrozole to induce ovulation. Alongside treatment, the clinics provide expert guidance, compassionate care and emotional support to help women feel heard and informed at every stage of their fertility journey.
PCOS affects around one in 10 reproductive-aged women, making it one of the most common endocrine disorders worldwide.1
Dr Justin Chu, Medical Director at TFP Fertility, said: “These findings show just how far we still have to go in raising awareness of gynaecological conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. Too often, symptoms are overlooked or misunderstood, with women left waiting years for answers. Delayed diagnoses mean delayed treatment – and for many women, this can mean putting their dreams of parenthood on hold.
“At TFP Fertility, we are committed to ensuring women have access to the right information so they can feel empowered and make informed decisions about their future.”