Dr. Helen O’Neill occasionally questions whether she should have priced Hertility, the at-home fertility test she developed with her twin sister Deirdre and co-founder Dr. Natalie Getreu, higher than its current £149 cost. Speaking at the women’s-only AllBright Club in Mayfair, O’Neill expresses frustration over the perception that home-based tests lack legitimacy compared to clinical procedures.
Contrary to this notion, Hertility has gained significant recognition among Londoners for its comprehensive and accessible service. The finger-prick test provides detailed, personalized information on ovarian reserve, thyroid function, and more, effectively replacing what would traditionally require three private clinic appointments, potentially costing over £1,000.
The test boasts 99% accuracy and delivers results within 10 days, screening for up to 18 conditions. This is particularly transformative in a field where patients with conditions like PCOS or endometriosis often face lengthy waits for diagnosis. Hertility also facilitates quick referrals through virtual consultations and offers additional clinical services such as ultrasounds and egg freezing.
To date, nearly 400,000 women have used Hertility’s health assessment, contributing to what O’Neill describes as “the mother of all databases” on female reproductive health. This database tracks numerous factors, including the impact of lifestyle choices like vaping, stress, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal and Botox on fertility. Hertility’s latest report revealed, for the first time, that vaping affects ovarian reserve and that 63% of women experience stress-related hormone imbalances affecting their fertility.
O’Neill, 39, who serves as Hertility’s CEO and lectures in reproductive and molecular genetics at UCL, emphasizes the importance of exploring new questions about female reproductive health. “Our data is not just derived from traditional models,” she asserts. “It reflects the realities of modern women—our behaviors, our anxieties, and our reproductive realities. That, I believe, is incredibly powerful.”
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