EVVY provides relief from bacterial vaginosis symptoms, research found
EVVY, a vaginal healthcare company, improves the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial vaginosis, and recently peer-reviewed research has found. Bacterial vaginosis is the primary cause of women seeking care and can cause vaginal pain and discomfort.
New York City-based Evvy is a direct consumer company. Its home vaginal microbiome test starts at $129, checking bacteria and fungi (or microbes) in people's vaginas. After the tests were conducted, people received a report explaining the microorganisms found in the vagina and the health conditions associated with these microorganisms, such as bacterial vaginosis. Based on the results, consumers will receive a customized treatment plan and have a one-on-one virtual meeting with the coach.
The study, published in the Journal of Microbiology, evaluated 1,159 patients with bacterial vaginosis. All care at Evvy is provided completely remotely, including testing, prescription therapy and health coaching. The study found that 75.5% of patients reported four weeks of symptoms remission using EVVY, while 24.5% reported no changes or worsening symptoms.
In addition, at the average follow-up of 4.4 months, only 30% experienced recurrence of bacterial vaginosis, compared with 50% for traditional care. Patients also saw a decrease in bacteria associated with bacteria such as Gardnerella and Prevotella.
“Vaginal discomfort is the primary reason women seek medical advice, and traditional care makes women more susceptible to misdiagnosis than women who are correctly diagnosed, and more likely to recur their own infections than to get better,” Dr. Kate McClean, chief medical officer of Evvy, said in an email. “This study is the first to demonstrate that personalized, microbiome care can greatly improve recurrence rates and microbiome recovery. It validates that precise medications supported by deeper data and proactive patient support can fundamentally improve vaginal health outcomes.”
Currently, more than one-third of counties in the United States do not have OBGYN, and those often face long waiting times. Evvy believes its at-home platform can improve the care gap for patients.
McClean added that the research was “just the beginning” for the company. Currently, it is conducting another study on its ability to predict fertility. Evvy launched its fertility insights in March, which offers a test that measures protective bacteria associated with improving fertility. It also provides a score for the diversity of the microbiome, as greater microbiome diversity is associated with poor in vitro fertilization and pregnancy outcomes. Finally, it tests for “fertility disruptors” or bacterial levels associated with adverse negative fertility outcomes.
McLean said Evvy also hopes to expand into other areas of women's health in the future, including premature birth and gynecological cancer.
There are other vaginal microbiome testing companies, including Juno Bio. The company also offers at-home testing and gets one-on-one coaching.
Photo: Drazen Zigic, Getty Images
