This Irish-founded company allows you to test, track and treat hormonal health at home

Did you know that 60% of women suffer from hormone and gynaecological issues? Or that, on average, women have to wait between two and eight years to receive a fertility disorder diagnosis?

Historically, healthcare systems have not been designed with women in mind. Health conditions affecting women are branded as ‘complex’, ‘elusive’, and much too often, ‘all in your head’. From a young age, women are prescribed the contraceptive pill as a one-size-fits-all approach for the myriad issues that could be at play. It is for this reason that Hertility was born and Irish Life Health have teamed up with them to bring their technology to their members.

Empowering women

Revolutionising reproductive healthcare and putting women front and centre, Hertility are bringing reproductive science out of the lab and putting it into the hands of every single woman worldwide with their next-generation technology and care. Allowing women to proactively test, track and treat their hormonal health, this service is setting a new standard of scientific rigour and education in female health.

Irish Life Health are the first and only health insurer in Ireland and globally to partner with this Irish-founded women’s health company, leading the way in female health. As an Irish Life Health member, you may access Hertility’s pioneering at-home test kit and get advanced insights into potential hormonal imbalances and your ovarian egg reserve, as well as be screened for up to 18 conditions that can impact reproductive health.

In as little as ten days you will receive your doctor-written report explaining your results with suggested next steps for any follow-up care you may need. And if you need it, you can book an online consultation with their fertility specialist for an in-depth discussion about what your results mean for you.

So, how do the at-home hormone and fertility testing kits work?

Having spent years researching reproductive health and hormones, the team behind Hertility have created a clinically validated diagnostic solution to provide answers for every person, no matter what stage they’re at.

Step one involves an online health assessment, which spans 30 questions and helps their expert team gain greater insight into every symptom, your medical history, lifestyle and periods in order to create a bespoke at-home hormone test. At this point, 26% of people get a potential diagnosis by calculating their risk profile for up to 18 conditions related to reproductive health, like PCOS.

From here, a personalised hormone panel will be created just for you, from hormones that regulate your periods to those which screen for reproductive and thyroid conditions. You will then receive your easy to use at-home blood collection kit within 3-5 days, which comes with everything you need to collect your sample. No more last minute appointments, waiting lists or lengthy commutes.

Finally, you will receive a report explaining your results which serves as the most accurate diagnostic tool for your reproductive health, written by your assigned private gynaecologist. The Hertility stats show that 44% of people received results indicative of a diagnosis, so whether you need a scan or referral for fertility treatments, you can book with the right specialist the next day. The team can also refer you to vetted partner clinics for treatments such as IVF, IUI and egg freezing to continue your fertility journey.

Female health specialists

Irish Life Health are changing how women in Ireland access the health services they need. This partnership with Hertility is in addition to a range of female health services. Members also have access to a female health consultation with a GP who specialises in female health and female pelvic physiotherapy.

Hertility are making sure that women across Ireland and the rest of the world can be safe in the knowledge that no, they’re not ovary-acting.

The Female Fertility Assessment and Consultation benefit is available on all Irish Life Health hospital plans from 1 November 2024. Terms and conditions apply. See your Irish Life Health table of cover and membership handbook for details. Irish Life Health dac is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. More information is available here.