But a charity is aiming to improve treatment and funding for endometriosis because it says care can be patchy.

What causes the female-only disease is not known. But problems occur when cells like the ones found in the lining of the womb move to other parts of the body, causing painful inflammation, adhesions and cysts.

And for women such as Karen Fawley from Sheffield, who has lived with the condition for over two decades, it can take a long time to find a way forward.

Karen, aged 45, has found that pilates, a mat-based exercise programme, helps her to manage her health as it strengthens and lengthens core muscles in the body.

She now teaches pilates to others with similar health problems. When the cells that line the womb migrate to elsewhere in the body they still behave in the way they always have, so in response to female hormones they grow during the menstrual cycle and bleed during a period.

For sufferers the impact on everyday life can be enormous, with significant days lost at school, college or at work due to the pain. And there can be difficulties such as urinating or having sex, all taking an emotional toll on relationships, friendships and a social life.

Robert Music, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, a charity dedicated to improving the plight of sufferers, says much more help is needed.

“We must get teenage girls and young women with a gynaecological problem into the system quicker,” said Robert.

“We must also continue to provide information and lobby government for better funding.”

The economic impact of the disease is significant. Estimates of the cost to industry and commerce in terms of the number of work and education days lost could be as £3 billion in the UK.

Figures show that 80 per cent of those with endometriosis who have been employed in the past five years have lost an average of 5.7 days a month from their work.

Visit www.endometriosis-uk.org for more .