Is/Can Endometriosis be a heriditary thing?

[Claire2009]

Just chatting to my Nan and mentioned that I'm thinking of going to get checked out for this, she said she has it, Aunt has it, my Mum had it (Mum died 12yrs ago so I didnt know) and a couple of other family members have it...

I am shocked, I'd never heard of it till recently.

So, just wondering is this likely to be heriditary or just bad luck?

AFAIK its a case of luck of the draw. As far as I'm aware no one in my family have it but i was diagnose with it 5/6 years ago

There seems to be a family link to endo. This may be genetic, although some researchers believe that family predisposition is not necessarily due to genetic inheritance. Studies show that endo is present in 7 to 10 percent of first degree female relatives (mother, sister, daughter) of an affected woman and 2 percent of second degree relatives (grandmother, aunt, cousin). Woemwn with an affected 1st degree relative are also more likely to have a more severe version of the disease. The pattern of inheritance seems to be passed on through the mother's family rather than the fathers.

Some researchers believe that there are two forms of endo; one being due to a single inherited gene, the other being a result of non gentic factors e.f diet, environment, smoking or the interaction of several different genes.