Analysis of Early Menopause and Endometriosis Genetics Merit in Use of Polygenic Risk Assessments for Prediction

Author

• Emily Solomon, Lynn University

Date of Award

8-19-2026

Document Type

Capstone

Granting Institution

Lynn University

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Degree Program

Biological Sciences

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Félix E. Rivera-Mariani

Abstract

Endometriosis and Early Menopause are reproductive conditions that are under research in women's health. Both conditions impact a woman’s quality of life through severity of symptoms and associated risk factors and are influenced by genetic, hormonal and environmental elements. Both conditions have extensive and growing genetic knowledge that is being used to calculate either an increased or decreased risk of condition development. The array of genetic data shows promises in predicting risk for both conditions, as well as certain symptoms, to contribute to a personalized predictive tool to guide management of care. Endometriosis benefits from a potential polygenic risk assessment by giving patients a value to guide further diagnostic steps and potential earlier care. Early menopause benefits from a polygenic risk assessment by providing women with a risk score to guide further management care earlier in a woman's reproductive life. Endometriosis PRS would test the risk of susceptibility of developing the disease while menopause PRS would test the risk of developing certain timing of menopause like earlier or later menopause. PRS or Polygenic Risk Scores strictly use genetics to calculate risk of disease development, a multifactorial model using genetics and outside clinical information potentially will be a stronger use model for polygenetic disorders as shown in current research. Research suggests a linkage between endometriosis and menopause that may allude to underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms further connecting the two, which could show potential to development of interconnected risk assessments of the two disorder instead of just assessments for the conditions separately. Future research should prioritize diverse prediction models with diverse genetic populations that integrate genetic and clinical factors to determine whether PRS can provide clinically meaningful information for personalized reproductive healthcare.

Comments

Two figures have been redacted from this capstone: Figure 2 and Figure 3.

The Lynn University Archives has retained a copy of the unedited capstone paper.

Recommended Citation

Solomon, E. (2026). Analysis of early menopause and endometriosis genetics merit in use of polygenic risk assessments for prediction [Master's capstone, Lynn University]. SPIRAL. https://spiral.lynn.edu/etds/464