Could Your Genes Make You More Prone To Endometriosis? An Indian Study Has New Clues

Pain so intense that getting through work feels impossible. Missing college because cramps are unbearable. Pain during sex. Fatigue. Trouble conceiving. And, for many women, years of being told that painful periods are simply something they have to live with. Now, India's first genome-wide study on endometriosis has added another piece to the puzzle: genetics may influence who is more susceptible to the condition.

The study, led by researchers at ICMR–National Institute for Research on Women's Health (ICMR-NIRWoH), Mumbai, analysed genetic data from women with and without endometriosis across India. It identified 21 suggestive genetic regions associated with the condition, including a previously less-studied signal on chromosome 13.

So, is endometriosis genetic?

Not quite that simple. Endometriosis is considered a complex condition influenced by several factors, including genetics and biological and environmental factors. Having genetic susceptibility does not mean someone will definitely develop the disease. The new study instead suggests that some women may carry genetic variants that make them more susceptible.

Researchers also found evidence that some genetic signals previously identified in other populations, including regions near WNT4 and CDKN2B-AS1, may also be relevant to Indian women.

Why does an Indian study matter?

A lot of existing genetic research on endometriosis has been conducted in populations of European ancestry, while South Asian populations have been comparatively underrepresented. This matters because genetic patterns can vary between populations.

The Indian study is therefore an important starting point for understanding how endometriosis may develop in Indian and South Asian women, rather than assuming findings from predominantly Western populations apply in exactly the same way.

The numbers are bigger than we think

Endometriosis affects around 10% of women of reproductive age globally, according to the researchers and WHO estimates. The ICMR release estimates that nearly 50 million women in India live with the condition.

Yet diagnosis can take years. That delay matters because endometriosis isn't just about period pain. It can involve chronic pelvic pain, painful sex, fatigue, infertility and significant effects on quality of life. It can also affect mental wellbeing.

But don't start looking for a genetic test just yet

This is perhaps the most important caveat. The researchers say the findings are not currently ready for individual clinical testing or personal risk prediction. The 21 regions identified are signals for further research, not a checklist that can tell someone whether they will develop endometriosis.

The study involved 2,523 participants and is an important foundation, but larger studies will be needed to understand these genetic associations and how they interact with other risk factors.

What this could mean for the future

The hope is that research like this eventually contributes to earlier recognition, better understanding of disease mechanisms and, potentially, more personalised approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

For now, though, the takeaway is simpler. Severe period pain isn't something women should automatically be expected to tolerate.