You’ve probably heard of BRCA1 and BRCA2, mutations that put women at a higher risk for breast cancer. Tests developed in the early 2000s can pinpoint the genes, allowing women to be proactive. It’s why Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy in 2013.
“That test was a huge advancement for women,” remembers 38-year-old molecular biologist Piraye Beim. “And it got me thinking: Is anyone decoding the genetic basis for infertility?”
According to the CDC, 7.5M American women face infertility. And if you’re one of them? It’s freaking expensive: A single round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) costs $15,000. One egg freezing cycle? $10,000. (Most states and insurers don’t cover fertility treatments, btw.)
“It’s often the most expensive, emotionally taxing part of a woman’s life,” Beim continues. “But what if you knew you carried genetic variants associated with infertility? Could start conceiving earlier or freeze eggs in your 20s? You might save money sooner, and that information is life changing.”
Enter Fertilome. Announced yesterday, it’s the first blood test from Beim’s New York-based startup, Celmatix. The goal? Identify the genetic causes of infertility and use that data to empower women.