Thank you very much. One in 10 women is affected by endometriosis. The causes of endometriosis are unclear, but retrograde menstruation, hormonal imbalance, surgical scars, problems with the immune system and genetics all play a part.

Many women suffer for years before understanding why they suffer with painful monthly periods, chronic lower back pain, pain during sex, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and nausea, especially during their periods. Parents, teachers, employers and even the medical profession fail to spot the symptoms. It can take an average of eight years and 26 GP appointments to get to see an endometriosis specialist.

Endometriosis awareness training for GPs is now being rolled out across the Welsh NHS. And more endo nurses are being employed in line with NICE guidance. But there's only one specialist endometriosis centre in Cardiff for the whole of Wales, with a range of treatments to alleviate, but unfortunately unable to cure, this disease. Endometriosis costs the UK economy over £8 billion in healthcare treatments and lost employment, and the psychosocial impact is hard to put a figure on.

I want to pay tribute to the Endo March Wales co-ordinators: Nikki Dally, Samantha Hickson and Karla Edwards and all the other grass-roots campaigners who’ve raised the profile of endometriosis in Wales. It takes place every year on the last Saturday of this month. Last year, they were in Cardiff and Llandudno, and on Saturday, 28 March, they'll be in Cardiff and Mold. If you can, please join them.