About us
Endometriosis affects millions of people worldwide, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and under-diagnosed health conditions of all time.
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​Endometriosis is a long-term health condition that can deeply impact a person’s physical, emotional, and social wellbeing.
Because experiences of endometriosis can vary significantly from person to person, having access to clear, supportive information is an important first step in not only understanding the condition, but in navigating the symptoms, route to diagnosis, and accessing timely and quality care and support.
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​The Endometriosis Foundation is a patient-led charity built on compassion, collaboration, and lived experiences.
We work directly with people affected by endometriosis to develop and deliver educational resources, community support, and awareness initiatives - ensuring that our resources, programs, and outreach are both evidence-based and deeply empathetic.
The charity’s board of medical professionals provides clinical insight and research expertise, while those living with the condition guide everything we do. ​By bringing together patients, clinicians, and advocates, The Endometriosis Foundation creates space for understanding and meaningful change.
Pictured: Our amazing Volunteers Tanya & Hannah photographed while helping spread the word at Stylist Magazine Live. November, 2024.
The story behind The Endometriosis Foundation
The Endometriosis Foundation was founded by Carla Cressy, whose journey with the condition began at just 13 years old. Despite experiencing severe symptoms and seeking help from specialists from the age of 15, her pain was often overlooked or misdiagnosed as conditions such as gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, lazy bowel syndrome, or simply painful periods.
It wasn’t until she was 25 following an unnecessary appendectomy and emergency surgery during a critical health crisis that Carla was finally diagnosed with severe endometriosis, including frozen pelvis disease and infertility.
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This diagnosis came just six months after a procedure had indicated only minimal signs of the disease, even though her symptoms had grown significantly worse. By the age of 29, Carla had suffered extensive damage, ultimately leading to the loss of her ability to carry children, and requiring major surgeries including a hysterectomy, bladder reconstruction, and a stoma.
Carla’s experience, while deeply personal and incredibly difficult, is sadly not uncommon.
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Endometriosis affects millions of people around the world, yet remains widely under-funded, under diagnosed, and misunderstood. In the UK 1 in 10 females are diagnosed, though this figure may be even higher due to the long average delay in diagnosis currently nearly nine years.
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Motivated by these challenges, Carla took action. She began by creating online support groups that have brought together thousands of people. She went on to deliver educational talks in schools and led a national campaign focused on promoting earlier diagnosis and raising awareness.
Through her efforts, Carla has helped ensure that endometriosis is becoming a more visible and better-understood condition.
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Pictured: Carla photographed against the BBC series Waterloo Road logo sign having featured as a script writer for their award nomination storyline on endometriosis.
Guidance You Can Trust
The information we provide is designed to offer clear, reliable guidance for individuals with suspected or diagnosed endometriosis, as well as for family, friends, and loved ones supporting them. The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice; the content reflects current guidelines from NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) on the diagnosis and management of endometriosis.