If your mother or sister has endometriosis, does that mean you will develop it too?
Not necessarily. But decades of research show that endometriosis can cluster in families, and having a close relative with the condition is associated with a higher risk of endometriosis.
Some familial studies have reported approximately 5 to 10 times higher risk or odds among close relatives, although estimates vary between studies and populations. Family history is therefore an important part of the clinical picture, but it is not a diagnosis.
How Does Family History Affect Endometriosis Risk?
Several studies have investigated endometriosis among mothers, sisters, and other relatives.
A Norwegian study involving more than 500 patients with endometriosis reported that first-degree relatives had approximately 7.2 times higher odds of endometriosis compared with relatives of controls. The researchers found endometriosis or adenomyosis in 3.9% of mothers and 4.8% of sisters of affected patients, compared with 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively, among relatives of controls. [2]
A later Yale study found endometriosis in 9.5% of first-degree relatives of women with endometriosis compared with 1% of controls, corresponding to an odds ratio of 10.21. [1]
However, the exact number varies. A large Icelandic population-based study reported a 5.2-fold risk among sisters, while cousins had a smaller 1.56-fold increase. [4]
Taken together, these studies provide strong evidence of familial clustering, but there is no single risk multiplier that applies to every family.
Does Endometriosis Run in Families?
Yes, research supports a familial component to endometriosis.
Importantly, familial risk is not limited to the maternal side. The Icelandic genealogy study found evidence of both maternal and paternal inheritance contributing to familial clustering.
This means that when discussing family history, information about relatives on both sides of the family can be relevant.
Is Endometriosis Genetic?
Genetics appear to contribute to endometriosis, but the condition does not follow a simple inheritance pattern where one gene determines whether someone develops it.
Modern genetic research supports a complex, polygenic picture involving many genetic variants.
A large 2023 genome-wide association meta-analysis involving 60,674 endometriosis cases and 701,926 controls identified 42 genome-wide significant genetic loci containing 49 distinct association signals. The researchers also found stronger genetic effects for stage III/IV disease, particularly ovarian endometriosis. [3]
More recent multi-ancestry research involving data from over one million women has continued to identify additional genetic loci associated with endometriosis, reinforcing that genetic susceptibility is distributed across many areas of the genome rather than being explained by a single “endometriosis gene”.
If My Mother or Sister Has Endometriosis, Will I Get It?
No.
A higher relative risk does not mean that developing endometriosis is inevitable.
Similarly, saying that one study found sevenfold or tenfold higher odds does not mean that someone has a 70% or 100% chance of developing the condition. Relative measures compare one group with another and should not be interpreted as an individual’s absolute probability.
Family history is one risk factor among many, and current genetic research indicates that endometriosis is a complex condition influenced by multiple biological factors.
Why Family History Matters
Knowing your family history can provide useful information when symptoms suggest endometriosis.
If your mother, sister, daughter, or another close relative has been diagnosed, consider mentioning this when discussing symptoms such as:
- Severe or worsening menstrual pain
- Dolor pélvico crónico
- Pain during or after sex
- Evacuaciones intestinales dolorosas
- Urinary symptoms associated with menstruation
- Difficulty becoming pregnant
Having these symptoms and a family history does not establish a diagnosis, but it can provide additional context during an endometriosis evaluation.
Have Symptoms? Use the Endometriosis Symptom Checker
If endometriosis runs in your family and you are experiencing symptoms, the Verificador de síntomas de endometriosis can help you review symptoms commonly associated with endometriosis.
Take the Endometriosis Symptom Checker →
The checker is designed to help you better understand your symptoms and prepare for a conversation with a healthcare professional. It does not diagnose endometriosis.
Family History Is a Clue, Not a Diagnosis
Endometriosis clearly has a familial and genetic component, but inheritance is much more complicated than simply passing the condition directly from a parent to a child.
A person with no known family history can still develop endometriosis, while someone with several affected relatives may never develop the condition.
En New York Gynecology Surgery & Endometriosis (NYGSE), Dr. Pankaj Singhal and Dr. Elizabeth McLean evaluate symptoms together with medical history, family history, imaging findings, and other clinical information when assessing patients for endometriosis.
If endometriosis runs in your family and you are experiencing symptoms, discussing that history with an NYGSE endometriosis specialist can help determine whether further evaluation is appropriate.
Referencias
- Matalliotakis, I. M., Arici, A., Cakmak, H., Goumenou, A. G., Koumantakis, G., & Mahutte, N. G. (2008). Familial aggregation of endometriosis in the Yale Series. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 278(6), 507–511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0644-1
- Moen, M. H., & Magnus, P. (1993). The familial risk of endometriosis. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 72(7), 560–564. https://doi.org/10.3109/00016349309058164
- Rahmioglu, N., Mortlock, S., Ghiasi, M., Møller, P. L., Stefansdottir, L., Galarneau, G., Turman, C., Danning, R., Law, M. H., Sapkota, Y., MacGregor, S., Martin, N. G., Nyholt, D. R., Henders, A. K., et al. (2023). The genetic basis of endometriosis and comorbidity with other pain and inflammatory conditions. Nature Genetics, 55(3), 423–436. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-023-01323-z
- Stefansson, H., Geirsson, R. T., Steinthorsdottir, V., Jonsson, H., Manolescu, A., Kong, A., Ingadottir, G., Gulcher, J., & Stefansson, K. (2002). Genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing endometriosis. Human Reproduction, 17(3), 555–559. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/17.3.555
