Emma Hayes speaks about the impact of endometriosis on women in sport.

The 42-year-old took charge of the Women’s Super League outfit in 2012 and guided them to back-to-back WSL titles in 2015 and 2016.

However, Hayes has been absent from Chelsea’s last two matches due to what the club have described as “personal reasons”. And it is understood that those personal reasons relate to her battle with endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects around 1.5 million women in the UK. It is caused when tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Symptoms can include severe pain, heavy bleeding, fatigue and infertility.

It is not yet known how long Hayes will be away from the club for, but her absence is a huge blow to Chelsea as they look to defend their WSL title.

In a statement, Chelsea said: “Emma Hayes has taken some personal time away from the club due to ongoing problems with endometriosis. “We are in regular communication with Emma and will continue to support her during this difficult time.”

Endometriosis can have a huge impact on every aspect of a woman’s life, including her mental health, relationships and career. In an interview with The Guardian in 2017, Hayes spoke about how the condition had affected her life.

“It’s been really tough,” she said. “There have been days when I couldn’t get out of bed, let alone go to work. I’ve had to have surgery and I’m on medication, but it’s still a daily battle. Some days are good and some days are bad.

Hayes is just one of many high-profile women who have spoken out about the impact of endometriosis. “But I’m not going to give up. I’m a fighter and I’ll keep fighting.”

Others include actresses Lena Dunham and Whoopi Goldberg, model Chrissy Teigen and businesswoman Oprah Winfrey.

By raising awareness of the condition, they are helping to break the taboo around women’s health and empowering other women to speak out about their own experiences.