Evvy, a women’s health company, is now offering fertility insights through its vaginal microbiome test, the company announced on Tuesday.
New York City-based Evvy is a direct-to-consumer company. Its vaginal microbiome test, starting at $129, checks for bacteria and fungi (or microbes) in people’s vaginas. After taking the test, people receive a report that explains the microbes found in the vagina and the health conditions related to those microbes. Based on the results, consumers receive a customized treatment plan and a one-on-one virtual session with a coach.
Now, the test results include a section on fertility insights. Users of the test receive a “protective score,” which is a measure of protective bacteria like Lactobacillus. This is associated with improved fertility, lower inflammation and better pregnancy outcomes.
In addition, the test provides a microbiome diversity score. Greater microbiome diversity is linked to worse IVF and pregnancy outcomes. The test also shows “fertility disruptors,” or the levels of bacteria associated with negative fertility outcomes, like Fannyhessea, Gardnerella, and Prevotella.
Lastly, consumers can add on STI testing, which checks for sexually transmitted infections. These infections can affect fertility and pregnancy. If the test discovers an STI, users can receive treatment from Evvy.
The fertility insights offering is filling an unmet need in the market, according to Priyanka Jain, CEO and co-founder of Evvy. Currently, one-third of infertility cases are marked as “unexplained.” The vaginal microbiome is often an overlooked factor in fertility, Jain said.
“Research shows that certain vaginal microbiome profiles are associated with better implantation and fertility outcomes, while imbalances like [bacterial vaginosis] have been linked to infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and pregnancy complications,” she said in an email. “Today, most fertility testing ignores the microbiome entirely. We’re closing this gap. For the first time, individuals and providers can access science-backed insights to understand and optimize the vaginal microbiome — before, during, and beyond conception.”
To create the fertility insights offering, Evvy’s science and clinical teams took the latest published research and combined it with insights from its own vaginal microbiome dataset to find “key microbial patterns linked to fertility outcomes,” according to Jain.
Evvy hopes to continue to expand its platform to support women for a variety of needs, including vaginal discomfort, fertility, pregnancy and menopause, Jain added. But with the new fertility insights offering, the company aims to give people a better understanding of how their vaginal microbiome affects fertility, as well as provide support before people hit “key fertility milestones,” she said.
Photo: Natali_Mis, Getty Images
