The Genetic Variants, Early Life Exposures, and Longitudinal Endometriosis Symptoms study (GELLES) is a substudy of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Thanks to the women of ALSWH we now know that roughly one in nine women have endometriosis (endo). Women with endo often experience severe pain, heavy periods, and infertility. Diagnosis can take 7-12 years, but we’re working on understanding more about this disease.

The GELLES study is looking people’s genes and health across their life to find out more about why endometriosis develops, diagnose it earlier, and find better treatments. 

Thank you to 5,340 women from the 1989-95 cohort and 4,114 women from the 1973- 78 cohort who participated in GELLES. We’re analysing your data now to understand why some women get endometriosis and others don’t.

We know that not all people who have periods identify as women. We acknowledge individuals in the transgender community and people who are non-binary.