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If pregnancy doesn’t come naturally, you want to know where you stand.
Genetic factors can affect your fertility, but also the course of a pregnancy. Yet they’re not routinely tested. With this add-on, your iGene test does analyse them, from the same saliva sample.
Sometimes standard tests don’t tell the whole story.
A standard fertility assessment usually consists of a consultation, blood tests and an ultrasound scan. These tests are important: they show how your body is working at that moment, and they often find a possible cause.
Yet in about 1 in 4 couples, it remains unclear why a pregnancy doesn’t happen. Hormone levels can vary from day to day or from cycle to cycle, and conditions such as PMOS and endometriosis are not always recognised straight away.
Your genetic predisposition doesn’t change. That’s why the test can provide clues that standard tests don’t show.
Important: the test doesn’t show whether you actually have a condition. It shows whether you have a genetic predisposition to it. Together with your doctor, you decide which next step suits you best.
Is this for you?
More than 20% of women have a condition that can affect fertility. Often you don’t know it yourself. The add-on can be particularly useful if you:
have an irregular cycle or hormonal symptoms;
have heavy or painful periods;
have had several miscarriages.
Even if you don’t want children. Are you looking for an explanation for heavy or painful periods, or an irregular cycle? Among other things, the test looks at your predisposition to PMOS and endometriosis.
Have you been trying to get pregnant for less than a year? In that case, this test usually isn’t necessary yet. After all, for many couples it takes some time to get pregnant.
What’s included
5 topics in two groups.
Getting and staying pregnant
PMOS (formerly PCOS)
In 10 to 15% of women of reproductive age
With PMOS, several small follicles grow in the ovaries that don’t mature, or only partly. This can lead to irregular ovulation, or no ovulation at all. As a result, getting pregnant can be more difficult. PMOS is the most common hormonal condition in women of reproductive age.
PMOS used to be called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The new name better reflects what happens in the body: a disruption of hormones and metabolism.
What symptoms does it cause?
Difficulty getting pregnant, due to irregular ovulation
An irregular cycle, or absent periods
More frequent mood swings, anxiety and depressive feelings
Excessive hair growth on the face and body (hirsutism)
Acne, especially on the chin, jawline and back
Hair loss on the top of the head and at the temples
What does your DNA say?
PMOS doesn’t have a single cause, but your genetic predisposition plays an important role. The test looks at variations that can influence these processes:
The result shows whether, genetically, you have a normal or an increased risk. An increased risk doesn’t mean that you have it or will get it. And a normal risk doesn’t mean that you can’t get it.
What can you do with your result?
You know whether you have a predisposition that plays a role in PMOS: in your hormone balance, your insulin sensitivity and the balance between the hormones LH and FSH. This helps you understand where an irregular cycle or difficulty getting pregnant may come from. So you can take a more targeted approach, for example with your lifestyle as a first step.
What causes it?
With PMOS, hormones and metabolism don’t work together properly. The body produces too many androgens (male hormones), which disrupts the maturation of egg cells and ovulation. There is also often relatively too much LH compared with FSH.
Insulin resistance is also common. The body then produces extra insulin, which in turn stimulates the production of androgens. This creates a vicious circle: an important cause of fertility problems in PMOS.
How is it diagnosed?
A doctor usually makes the diagnosis using the Rotterdam criteria: PMOS is present if at least two of three features apply. Irregular or absent ovulation, raised androgens, and cysts in the ovaries on an ultrasound scan.
What can you do?
Lifestyle: Often an important first step. Even limited weight loss can help some women restore ovulation. Eating healthily, getting enough exercise and not smoking contribute to a better hormone balance.
Medicines: If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your doctor may consider medicines that stimulate ovulation.
Fertility treatment: If medicines don’t give the desired result, there are further options, such as hormone injections or IVF.
When does the test make sense?
Do you have symptoms that remain unexplained, such as an irregular cycle or heavy periods? Or are you having trouble getting pregnant? So the result can give direction, for you or as a reason for your doctor to look more closely.
Good to know
Many women with PMOS get pregnant without medical help. PMOS doesn’t mean you’re infertile, although it may take longer. PMOS can’t be cured, but there are ways to reduce the symptoms and increase the chance of a pregnancy.
The test doesn’t make a diagnosis and doesn’t directly steer towards treatment. It gives additional information based on your DNA.
Getting and staying pregnant
Endometriosis
In about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age
Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside the womb, for example on the peritoneum, the ovaries or the intestines.
What symptoms does it cause?
Pain in the lower abdomen, especially during menstruation
Heavy or painful periods
Pain during sex, when urinating or when opening your bowels
Tiredness
Abdominal symptoms, such as bloating, diarrhoea or constipation
Difficulty getting pregnant, because adhesions can disrupt the ovaries or fallopian tubes
What does your DNA say?
Endometriosis doesn’t have a single cause, but your genetic predisposition does play an important role. The test looks at variations that can influence these processes:
Immune system: how well your body clears tissue outside the womb
Inflammation: how strongly inflammatory responses develop
Hormones: how sensitive your body is to oestrogen
Blood vessels: the formation of new blood vessels, which can support the growth of endometriosis
The result shows whether, genetically, you have a normal or an increased risk. An increased risk doesn’t mean that you have it or will get it. And a normal risk doesn’t mean that you can’t get it.
What can you do with your result?
You know whether you have a predisposition that plays a role in endometriosis: in your immune system, your inflammatory responses, your sensitivity to oestrogen and the formation of new blood vessels. That way, your results can give direction if you have severe period pain or persistent pelvic pain. So you can have symptoms looked into sooner, because an early diagnosis can help limit damage.
What causes it?
During menstruation, in most women some of the blood flows through the fallopian tubes into the abdominal cavity. Normally the immune system clears it up. In endometriosis this doesn’t work properly, and an inflammatory response develops that actually helps the tissue survive and grow. This can lead to scarring and adhesions.
The tissue responds to hormones: it grows under the influence of oestrogen and can bleed during menstruation. This often causes pain and inflammation.
How is it diagnosed?
Endometriosis is difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms resemble those of other conditions. It often takes years before the right diagnosis is made, because severe period pain is often seen as normal. Only a doctor can diagnose endometriosis, for example with an ultrasound scan, MRI or keyhole surgery (laparoscopy).
What can you do?
Early diagnosis: Can help limit damage. So discuss persistent symptoms with your GP or gynaecologist.
Healthy lifestyle: Eating healthily, getting enough exercise, not smoking and reducing stress can relieve the symptoms.
Medicines: As long as you don’t want to get pregnant, hormonal treatment can slow the growth of the tissue. If you want to have children, these medicines usually aren’t an option.
Surgery: In severe endometriosis, surgery may be considered to remove tissue and adhesions.
Fertility treatment: Depending on the severity, your doctor may advise a wait-and-see approach, insemination or IVF.
When does the test make sense?
Do you have severe period pain or persistent pelvic pain? Or are you having trouble getting pregnant? So the result can give direction, for you or as a reason for your doctor to look more closely.
Good to know
Many women with endometriosis get pregnant spontaneously, although it may take longer. Discuss your wish to have children with your doctor in good time, especially after the age of 30.
The test doesn’t make a diagnosis and doesn’t directly steer towards treatment. It gives additional information based on your DNA.
Getting and staying pregnant
Recurrent miscarriage
In 1 to 3% of women
In recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), a person has had two or more miscarriages, whether consecutive or not. A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 24th week.
Miscarriages are more common than many people think. About 15% of confirmed pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and about 1 in 4 women experience at least one. For most, it happens only once.
Important causes and factors
Age: before the age of 30 the risk of a miscarriage is about 12%, over 40 more than 50%
Chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo
A disrupted hormone balance in the mother, for example in PMOS
An immune system that reacts too strongly to the pregnancy
An abnormally shaped womb, which can make implantation more difficult
What does your DNA say?
In recurrent miscarriage, several factors often play a role at the same time; your genetic predisposition is one of them. The test looks at variations that have been linked in scientific research to recurrent pregnancy loss, and that can influence these processes:
Blood clotting
Inflammation
Vascular function
Homocysteine
Genes involved include:F5F2MTHFRMTRVEGFNOS3
The result shows whether, genetically, you have a normal or an increased risk. An increased risk doesn’t mean that you have it or will get it. And a normal risk doesn’t mean that you can’t get it.
What can you do with your result?
You know whether you have a predisposition that has been linked to recurrent pregnancy loss: in your blood clotting, inflammatory responses, vascular function and homocysteine. This gives you more insight into what may play a role for you. So you can discuss with your doctor whether extra support during a future pregnancy makes sense, and work on a better starting position through your lifestyle.
What causes it?
In most miscarriages the cause remains unknown: a clear medical cause is found in only 15 to 20%. In early miscarriages, up to about 12 weeks, the cause usually lies with the embryo. In later miscarriages, a cause in the mother is found more often.
What can you do?
Healthy lifestyle: Giving up smoking, no alcohol, a healthy weight and enough exercise can contribute to a better starting position. Taking folic acid is standard advice if you want to have children.
Treatment of underlying causes: If a cause is found, such as a hormonal disorder or an abnormality of the womb, your doctor can propose targeted treatment.
Extra support during pregnancy: If there is an increased risk of recurrent pregnancy loss, your doctor may consider extra check-ups.
When does the test make sense?
Have you had several miscarriages? Or has an embryo failed to implant during IVF? So the result can give direction, for you or as a reason for your doctor to look more closely.
Good to know
Even after several miscarriages, the outlook for many women is good. Discuss your situation with your doctor to decide together on the best approach.
The test doesn’t make a diagnosis and doesn’t directly steer towards treatment. It gives additional information based on your DNA.
During pregnancy
Gestational diabetes
In 5 to 10% of pregnant women
Gestational diabetes is a temporary form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, usually in the second trimester. The body then has difficulty keeping blood sugar in balance. It can be treated well: often eating differently and exercising more is enough, sometimes medication is needed.
What symptoms does it cause?
Usually few or no clear symptoms; it’s often discovered by chance
Untreated, it can lead to complications, such as a high birth weight in the baby
It increases the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life, for mother and child
What does your DNA say?
Gestational diabetes doesn’t have a single cause, but your genetic predisposition does play an important role. The test looks at variations that can influence these processes:
Sugar processing: variations that make your body respond less well to insulin
Insulin production: variations that affect the cells that produce insulin
Genes involved include:GCKGCKRIRS1SLC30A8TCF7L2
The result shows whether, genetically, you have a normal or an increased risk. An increased risk doesn’t mean that you have it or will get it. And a normal risk doesn’t mean that you can’t get it.
What can you do with your result?
You know whether you have a predisposition that makes gestational diabetes more likely, through your sugar processing and your insulin production. This tells you what to look out for during a pregnancy. So you can adjust your diet and exercise accordingly, and your doctor can check your blood sugar and the baby’s growth more often if necessary.
What causes it?
During pregnancy, hormones change a lot. Hormones from the placenta in particular make the body’s cells less sensitive to insulin. Normally the body then produces extra insulin to compensate. If that doesn’t work well enough, blood sugar levels become too high.
How is it diagnosed?
With a glucose tolerance test (OGTT), usually between week 24 and 28 in women with risk factors. If you’ve had gestational diabetes before, it’s often done earlier, around week 16 to 18. Only a doctor or midwife can make the diagnosis.
What can you do?
Healthy diet and exercise: Adjusting your eating pattern and exercising more can help keep your blood sugar under control.
Medicines: If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your doctor may consider medicines or insulin.
Extra check-ups: Your doctor may want to check more often how your blood sugar and the baby’s growth are doing.
When does the test make sense?
Do you have risk factors such as excess weight, PCOS or diabetes in the family? Or have you had gestational diabetes before? So the result can give direction, for you or as a reason for your doctor to look more closely.
Good to know
Gestational diabetes usually disappears after giving birth. However, the risk of type 2 diabetes may be increased later on; a healthy lifestyle therefore remains important afterwards too.
You can see your predisposition to type 2 diabetes in iGene Health, under the conditions.
The test doesn’t make a diagnosis and doesn’t directly steer towards treatment. It gives additional information based on your DNA.
During pregnancy
Pre-eclampsia
In about 4% of first pregnancies
Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication during pregnancy. Its main feature is blood pressure that is too high, often with protein loss in the urine. It usually develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Anyone who has had it before has about a 30% risk of it happening again.
It can cause damage to the mother’s kidneys, liver and brain, and the baby is at risk of growth restriction or premature birth. Early recognition is therefore important.
What symptoms does it cause?
Headache
Blurred vision
Fluid retention: swollen hands, feet or face
Shortness of breath
A tight feeling around the head or abdomen
In a more severe form: pain in the upper abdomen and reduced kidney and liver function
What does your DNA say?
Pre-eclampsia doesn’t have a single cause, but your genetic predisposition can play an important role. The test looks at variations that can influence these processes:
Blood pressure regulation: how your body regulates blood pressure (the RAAS system)
Blood clotting: variations that make blood clot more quickly, which can disrupt blood flow to the placenta
Immune response: variations that disrupt the balance of the immune system, causing inflammation
Vascular function: the formation of blood vessels in the placenta
Homocysteine: if your body doesn’t break down this substance properly, it can damage blood vessels
The result shows whether, genetically, you have a normal or an increased risk. An increased risk doesn’t mean that you have it or will get it. And a normal risk doesn’t mean that you can’t get it.
What can you do with your result?
You know whether you have a predisposition that can play a role in pre-eclampsia: in your blood pressure regulation, blood clotting, immune system, vascular function and homocysteine. This tells you whether you need to be extra alert to your blood pressure. So you can work on a healthy weight, enough exercise and not smoking even before pregnancy, and your midwife or doctor can check more often if necessary.
What causes it?
The exact cause isn’t yet entirely clear. It seems to be related to disrupted development of the placenta, especially of the blood vessels that supply the placenta with oxygen and nutrients. Disrupted blood flow can also damage the mother’s blood vessels.
How is it diagnosed?
Based on high blood pressure (from 140/90 mmHg) after 20 weeks of pregnancy, together with protein in the urine. That’s why blood pressure and urine are checked as standard at antenatal check-ups. Only a doctor or midwife can make the diagnosis.
What can you do?
Healthy lifestyle: A healthy weight, enough exercise and not smoking can contribute to a lower risk. This applies even before pregnancy.
Extra check-ups: If your doctor or midwife suspects an increased risk, they may want to check more often during pregnancy.
Treatment during pregnancy: If pre-eclampsia develops, there are options to treat the high blood pressure.
When does the test make sense?
Does pre-eclampsia run in your family? Or have you had high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy? So the result can give direction, for you or as a reason for your doctor to look more closely.
Good to know
Pre-eclampsia can’t always be prevented, but early recognition and good care can help. And pre-eclampsia in a first pregnancy doesn’t automatically mean it will happen again in a later one.
The test doesn’t make a diagnosis and doesn’t directly steer towards treatment. It gives additional information based on your DNA.
How does it work?
1 Order your test
2 Spit into the tube
3 Create your code
4 Send it back
5 Results in your app
Your results in the app
Your results, clear and always at hand.
For each topic you find everything in one place: what it involves, how it develops, which symptoms are associated with it and how it is diagnosed. You also see your personal genetic predisposition, which other risk factors play a role and which lifestyle advice suits your results.
Only you can see your results. You choose whether to share them with your doctor or specialist.
Already seeing a specialist? The results can provide additional information that you can take with you.
Test once. Your DNA doesn’t change, so your results stay valid for life.
