Banner by Korrina Gidwani

A Revolution in Feminine Medicine

By Samantha Branton

One in two women will be diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetime. Thirty-five percent of all women will also be faced with bacterial vaginosis (BV). Unfortunately, both of these illnesses have a quick and painful onset that can only be treated with antibiotics once symptoms arise. For women who cannot take time out of their day to go to the doctor and get a prescription, not only do they face vaginal burning, discomfort, and even excruciating pain but as many as one in 30 UTIs will evolve into a kidney infection. As common as these conditions are, it is a wonder why medicine has not created preventative treatments for either. 

It is not uncommon knowledge that women have been underrepresented in countless clinical research studies. In 1977, the Food and Drug Administration even issued a guideline excluding women of “childbearing potential” from participating in any clinical research study. The reason for this stems from the fact that female biology is inherently “messy.” Unlike their male counterparts, women experience repeated fluctuations in hormones monthly during their menstrual cycle. The up- and down-regulations of these hormones were thought to interfere with outcomes of clinical trials, which established the standard of utilizing men in these studies. This phenomenon has led to a severe gap in medical data for women. 

Evvy, a company responsible for developing the vaginal microbiome sequencing test, aims to reconcile the systemic data gap that has been perpetuated in medicine. Evvy founders Priyanka Jain and Laine Bruzek created a mission centered on closing the gender gap by discovering and leveraging overlooked biomarkers in the female body — starting with the vaginal microbiome. Every woman has a unique vaginal microbiome, that is all the microorganisms living in their vagina. Different microbiomes can contribute to specific illnesses of the vagina, BV and recurrent UTIs included. The hope is that by sequencing the vaginal microbiome, Evvy can compile a list of bacteria or other microorganisms that may put a woman at risk for developing either of these diseases or even determine if someone is susceptible to certain sexually transmitted infections. The company is working to create an extensive database consisting of all potential vaginal bacterial clusters. This project could lead to the establishment of a “healthy” microbiome, where deviations could predict disease risk factors and, with help from clinicians, lead to advances in preventive medicine for illnesses such as recurrent UTIs and BV.

The test works very similarly to 23andMe’s model. Evvy ships a personal test kit to your home, where you swab your vagina and then send the company back the swab. Then your microbiome is sequenced and the results sent to you via Evvy’s app interface. In addition to providing your results, the company also asks to anonymously store your data for future research projects that may lead to the betterment of women’s health. Evvy has even set up a system that allows you to send your results to your gynecologist so that they may create a treatment plan or prescribe antibiotics if necessary. Evvy has designed a platform that is easily accessible for all users and compatible with all devices.

Evvy offers one of the first vaginal microbiome tests available for women. The creators, two women themselves, have pledged to change the future of female medicine entirely by creating a more personalized approach to maintaining vaginal health. In doing so, Evvy is committed to repairing the sexism that has been historically so evident in medicine.