We lost a dear family member, Nicola Thyne, to a tragedy that should never have occurred.
“Nicola died by suicide in January 2024. She had lived for many years with endometriosis and chronic pain. We share her story to raise awareness and support progress in women’s health. Our petition reflects Scotland’s Women’s Health Plan by calling for evidence-based, mandatory women’s health education and training, helping to build understanding, confidence and consistency so women feel listened to and supported.”
Women across the UK and worldwide live with complex health conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), perimenopause, and menopause.
Despite advances in medicine, many women continue to experience delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, stigma, and a lack of validation when seeking help. This is not an isolated issue — it represents a significant public health concern that requires urgent, coordinated action.
To address this, we are calling for mandatory, standardised women’s health training for General Practitioners and other healthcare professionals, with a specific focus on conditions that disproportionately affect women.
This training should include menstrual health, reproductive and hormonal conditions, chronic pain, and the psychological and emotional impact these conditions can have.
Training should be evidence-based, regularly updated, and overseen by an appropriate medical regulatory body to ensure consistent, compassionate, and informed care across healthcare settings.
Nicola’s story is, tragically, not unique. It reflects the experiences of countless women who continue to suffer due to gaps in awareness, education, and the system-wide prioritisation of women’s health.
By signing this petition, you are honouring Nicola’s memory and helping to create meaningful change — ensuring that women’s health is recognised, understood, and treated as a healthcare priority.
Please visit our website to read Nicola’s Story:
Clarifications and evidence context:
This petition calls for system-level learning and improvement and does not attribute blame to individual clinicians or services.
The term “medical misogyny” is used here to describe systemic gender bias in healthcare, not the actions or intent of individual clinicians.
The Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan recognises that women experience health inequalities, including being dismissed, experiencing delayed diagnosis, and facing gaps in research and training.
Addressing systemic gender bias in healthcare has been identified as a national priority.
“While the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan recognises inequalities in women’s healthcare, many women continue to experience delayed diagnosis and unmet need.
This petition exists to support that Plan by calling for consistent, system-wide training and implementation so that policy commitments lead to meaningful change in everyday care.”
“National bodies have already recognised training gaps in women’s health within general practice. NHS England is working with the RCGP to address this, and professional evidence submitted to the Women’s Health Strategy calls for strengthened education. We are asking for this commitment to become a standardised requirement, so every woman in the UK receives informed, timely care at the point of GP contact.”
A UK Government women’s health survey found that 84% of respondents felt they had not been listened to by health professionals when discussing symptoms or treatment.
A Parliamentary review of reproductive health conditions reported that many women’s symptoms were normalised or dismissed, contributing to delayed diagnosis.
The Women’s Health Strategy for England includes commitments to improve research, data, education, and training on women’s health conditions to address longstanding gaps and inequities in care.
Thank you for your support
Nicola’s
