How Does The Fertilome Genetic Fertility Test Work?

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How Does The Fertilome Genetic Fertility Test Work?

If you’re over the age of 35 and considering children, the Fertilome genetic fertility test for women is a diagnostic tool that could help you have a healthy pregnancy. Here’s how it works.

What is the Fertilome DNA test?

Advancements in genetic testing are moving at an incredible pace. For women who are struggling to conceive, Fertilome is a new option that tests for genetic factors that may be leading to troubles with conception or carrying a pregnancy full-term.

Currently, there are three well-established methods to predict fertility in women:

The Fertilome fertility test provides an additional diagnostic tool for patients. While it can’t diagnose exact conditions, it can point to risks that patients may have for disorders that make pregnancy more difficult.

The Fertilome test scans for 49 variants across 32 genes, indicating risks for conditions like:

Dr. Sissy Sartor at the Fertility Institute of New Orleans explains that:

“This early foray into the use of genomics to predict reproductive potential is exciting. The genetics markers evaluated in this testing can yield results that complement clinical evaluation of fertility risk.”

Please note that there are non-DNA tests for these conditions that your Fertility Institute of New Orleans doctor can discuss with you as well.

Could the Fertilome fertility test help me?

Many patients could benefit from these advances in genetic fertility tests for women, including patients who:

Even with genetic fertility tests for women, it’s likely that genetic defects will be responsible for only a small percentage of infertility cases. However, if the Fertilome test suggests an increased risk for certain conditions, a patient can be proactive rather than reactive in their life choices. For example, they may consider oocyte or embryo cryopreservation or move forward with pregnancy attempts at an earlier time.

How much does the Fertilome test cost?

Fertilome test cost will vary depending on a number of factors. Currently, it’s not covered by insurance, though that may change in the future. It also has to be ordered by your doctor. You can’t take the test as an individual.

While the retail cost of Fertilome can be considerable, the company that developed Fertilome often offers discounts for certain providers. At some times, you may be able to get special pricing that is very affordable.  At the Fertility Institute of New Orleans, Fertilome costs are less than $200. Your best option is to talk with your doctor about cost. They’ll be able to work with you to see if it’s a cost-effective solution for learning more about your fertility.

Further, when you receive your results, it’s important that you’re working with a trusted doctor who has advanced training in fertility conditions and treatments. While Fertilome testing may suggest that you’re at an increased risk for certain conditions, it doesn’t mean that you actually have them. Instead, you and your doctor will analyze your results and, together, create a plan for how you’ll incorporate those results into your ongoing fertility treatments. At the Fertility Institute of New Orleans, we’ve found that the majority of patients who have taken the test so far have found the results helpful and are satisfied.

If you’re in the Gulf South, we encourage you to reach out to us at The Fertility Institute of New Orleans for more information about Fertilome. We’ve been making dreams come true since 1976 and have achieved almost 18,000 pregnancies (as of August 2018).

We can answer any questions you have about your fertility and Fertilome. Contact us today!

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