First Indian Genome Study Reveals Genetic Links to Endometriosis

Gist India's first genome-wide study on endometriosis has discovered genetic signals linking the disease to Indian women, identifying 21 suggestive genetic regions . Previously, genetic research on this debilitating condition was largely restricted to populations of European descent, leaving South Asian genetic markers unmapped. By establishing a dedicated clinical and genomic dataset, this breakthrough lays the scientific foundation for understanding population-specific biological pathways, eventually paving the way for early diagnosis and targeted treatments for Indian women. Background Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus endometrium grows outside the uterus, leading to severe menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. The condition affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally, yet diagnosis is frequently delayed because severe period pain is often normalised or dismissed in societal and medical contexts. Historically, genetic research on endometriosis relied almost entirely on populations of European ancestry , creating a massive data deficit regarding how the disease affects South Asian genetics. Prior to this study, Indian medical researchers lacked the population-specific genomic data required to scientifically investigate the…