LEVY Health

🌟 Welcome to the team, Pedro! Our tech team has been working hard! Each clinic we partner with is unique, so we tailor our platform to their specific needs and address technical challenges. To keep up with our growing number of clinics, we’re excited to welcome a new software engineer to the team! Pedro, we’re thrilled to have you on board! 🚀 His best health tip? "Take care of your body and mind." Prioritizing both helps you stay healthy, balanced, and perform at your best. 💡 We couldn’t agree more! 💙 #WelcomeToTheTeam #HealthTech #GrowingTeam

Better screening practices for #insulin resistance in #PCOS patients needed? A recent study by Liang et al., published in Fertility & Sterility (Jan 2025), shows a linear relationship between BMI and ART outcomes in women with #infertility, PCOS, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥ 2.69). The #findings are significant: For every 1 kg/m² increase in BMI: ➡️ Embryo implantation rates drop by 2% ➡️ Positive pregnancy test rates decrease by 11% ➡️ Clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates fall by 9% While there is already substantial research on obesity and reproductive outcomes, this study is specifically focuses on women with both PCOS and insulin resistance, shedding light on the compounded effects of metabolic health in this specific population. 👩⚕️ As our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Esther Chung points out, this research underscores the need for better screening practices for insulin resistance in PCOS patients. Current REI protocols often rely on HbA1c to screen for diabetes, but more comprehensive methods—like calculating HOMA-IR (fasting insulin and glucose) or a 2-hour GTT with insulin—are underutilized. Understanding the distinction between insulin resistance and prediabetes could make a critical difference in tailoring treatment. At LEVY Health, we support this comprehensive approach by including fasting glucose testing as part of our fertility workup, ensuring providers have the information they need to guide patients effectively. #Fertility #PCOS #ReproductiveHealth #WomensHealth #WeightManagement #BMI #InsulinResistance

#ESHRE & #ASRM just published a new Guideline on Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). 3 Key Takeaways & Thoughts: 💡 POI is more common than we thought. New data suggest a 3.5% prevalence, higher than the long-standing 1% estimate. Our own data have never aligned with the 1%, so we're glad to see this being recognized. 💡 Weak recommendations. Most diagnostic and treatment recommendations in this guideline are weak with only 1-2 points out of 4. That's not because the experts working on this guideline (Thank you to you all!) didn't do a good job. It is because high-quality research is still missing, and because AMH research was pretty much a mess for a long time. It’s disappointing that such a critical topic affecting so many women remains underfunded and understudied. 💡 AMH is undervalued in diagnostics. The guideline states: “Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) should not be used as the primary diagnostic test for POI.” (Strength of recommendation: Weak. No surprise there.) FSH is actually preferred in diagnostics. I understand that the shift from manual to automated AMH assays and new trajectories makes interpretation more complex, but in my opinion, AMH has a bigger potential here! We need better studies that take these differences of AMH assays into consideration to show that AMH is a great biomarker for identifying women at risk for POI before ovarian reserve is critically low. This is the approach we take at LEVY Health: We use age- and assay-specific AMH percentiles, adjusted for hormonal contraception, to predict POI risk years in advance. Because our goal isn’t to tell a 38-year-old that she has POI—it’s to tell a 32-year-old that she’s at high risk for POI at 38. That’s when action is still possible. Let’s push for better research, diagnostics, and proactive care in reproductive health. Women deserve it.   #POI #ReproductiveHealth #Fertility

📢 First #study to report an association between DFI and preeclampsia A recent Fertility and Sterility study (Jan 2025) explored the impact of sperm #DNA fragmentation (#DFI) on pregnancy health, with key findings: ➡️ Higher Risk of Preterm Birth: Elevated sperm DFI (DFI level of ≥20%) was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (PTB), underscoring the role of paternal health in pregnancy outcomes. ➡️ Link to Preeclampsia: The study also found a connection between higher DFI (DFI level of ≥10%) and preeclampsia in IVF pregnancies, suggesting that compromised sperm DNA may affect placental development. ➡️ ICSI vs. IVF: Interestingly, this association wasn’t seen in ICSI pregnancies, hinting that ICSI might help bypass some of the challenges linked to sperm DNA fragmentation. "There has been a lot of interest in testing for sperm DNA fragmentation and understanding the impact of high DFI on reproductive outcomes. In my current practice, I check DFI in patients with a history of poor IVF outcomes related to embryo development or in those with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss," says Dr. Esther Chung, Chief Medical Advisor at LEVY Health. The hypothesis regarding preeclampsia is that abnormal sperm DNA may lead to impaired placentation, contributing to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Additionally, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is often linked to oxidative stress, which is also implicated in the development of preeclampsia. "I'm curious to better understand to what extent ICSI can help mitigate the effects of sperm DNA fragmentation," says Esther Chung. "Could high sperm DNA fragmentation become another male-factor indication for ICSI? What role might devices like Zymot or TESE play in these cases? In the future, will sperm DNA fragmentation testing become a standard part of the male infertility workup?" What’s your take? Have you been testing for DFI in your practice, and what have you observed? We’d love to hear your insights! 📚 Link to study in comments below #FertilityResearch #IVF #ICSI #ReproductiveHealth #SpermDNA

Magnificent ending to an inspiring couple of days organized by our investors Calm/Storm. Loved seeing the portfolio founders, the tour at #Leopoldmuseum, and, as you can see, dancing in HOFBURG Vienna. Many, many thanks to Alexander Novak, Alfred Luger, Ekaterina Gianelli, Giulia Mazzolini, Johann 'Hansi' Hansmann, Lourdes Gutiérrez Iñigo, Johannes Blaschke, Lucanus ⛵️ Polagnoli, Matheus Verweijen, Nina Kasmaei-Gatzmaga, Philippa Allen, Stephanie Urbanski, Tobias Neveling (get better soon!), and everyone else who helped organize this! 💙

✨ #JPM2025 Reflections, Part 2: Spotlight on #WomensHealth ✨ This year, the focus on women’s health was undeniable—with ~30 events dedicated to advancing the field and a slew of insightful reports released over the last week. The energy and passion were backed by irrefutable data, and the momentum is inspiring! Here are some of the reports I've been delving into: - Women's Health Access Matters: (https://lnkd.in/gBkEWh2s) - BCG's report on the business case for better women's health: (https://lnkd.in/giHMZM5j) - McKinsey's blueprint to close the women's health gap: (https://lnkd.in/gNJMruyW) - Lux Capital's take on leveraging AI for women's health: (https://lnkd.in/gQxMFd-A) - HBA Think Tank's research report on the state of women's health in the workplace: (https://lnkd.in/gAvK7KZb) - A must-watch Davos Session with Stephanie SassmanOriana KraftPaula Bellostas Muguerza: (https://lnkd.in/geEtvf2E) Stay tuned for upcoming insights from #Accenture and #Deloitte expected in Q1. Are there other recent reports or resources you’d add to this list? Let me know! 👇 💡 Thoughts on the Intersection of Women’s Health x AI: 1️⃣ Biases in Data: Many of these reports highlight the male-centric bias in healthcare data, which has created systemic disparities. Rather than shying away, this is our chance to double down on improving and diversifying data collection methods. By enriching datasets, we can works AI equity rather than perpetuating the gap with technological advancements 2️⃣ Key Opportunity for AI: The gap between recognizing sex differences (acknowledged by 80% of physicians) and having the tools to address them (only 30%) signals a clear opportunity for AI-powered clinical decision support tools to bridge this knowledge gap 3️⃣ Market Timing: The convergence of growing women's health investment ($66B by 2033) and AI advancement creates a unique opportunity for AI-first solutions in women's healthcare. 4️⃣ The Innovators to Watch: Companies that combine cutting-edge AI capabilities with sex-specific healthcare insights—especially those tackling conditions that impact women differently or disproportionately —are poised to make a huge impact. Finally, it was amazing to meet so many passionate individuals in-person this year—Seth Staton, Pooja M., Rachel Mak-McCully, Mary Parman, Prickly Pear Health,and many more! Masha Dumanis- you were missed. Excited to keep the conversation going. 🙌 #WomensHealth #AI #HealthcareInnovation #JPM2024

"We need to reimagine the role of the REI to focus on what they’re uniquely qualified to do: managing complex cases, advancing research, and leading care teams." – Paul Magarelli 🔬 In our latest Under the Microscope interview, our co-founder Silvia Hecher sat with renowned reproductive endocrinologist Paul Magarelli. They discussed the expected shift in REI responsibilities, and how training general practitioners and #OBGYNs will play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for #ART. What are your thoughts on future developments in the IVF industry and the role of REIs? Please let us know in the comments. Check out our latest interview ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d4GPj2dN #underthemicroscope #levyhealth #reis #ivf #futureofivf #ivfindustry #interview

Closing the Women’s Health Gap: Why It’s Time to Act ❗️Women spend 25% more time in poor health than men – that’s an extra 7 days of poor health per woman per year, adding up to 75 million years of disability globally. ❗️ But here’s the good part: if we close this gap, we could unlock $1 trillion in global GDP annually by 2040. Yes, investing in women’s health doesn’t just improve lives (which should be enough on it’s own) but it also transforms economies. 🚨 Where’s the gap? The McKinsey Health Institute recently highlighted nine key health ranging from endometriosis and menopause to heart disease and maternal health complications. These issues often go under or misdiagnosed or undertreated, leaving millions of women struggling unnecessarily. It’s not just a medical issue – it’s a systems issue. Gaps in data, research, and care mean that many women don’t get the timely or accurate care they need. 🌟 What can we do? Here’s a simple but powerful framework to make meaningful progress: 1️⃣ Count Women: Collect better, sex-specific data to understand what’s really going on. 2️⃣ Study Women: Focus on research that highlights women’s unique health needs. 3️⃣ Care for Women: Deliver clinical guidelines and care systems that prioritize women. 4️⃣ Include All Women: Ensure care is equitable and accessible for all women, everywhere. 5️⃣ Invest in Women: Allocate resources to women’s health and support female leadership in the field. 💙 Why does this resonate with us at LEVY Health? Because this is exactly the gap we’re working to close every day. By creating solutions that empower clinics and patients, we’re helping to reduce diagnostic delays, personalize care, and improve outcomes for women everywhere. It’s not just about #health – it’s about #equity, #opportunity, and #progress. When women thrive, we all do. #WomensHealth #FertilityCare #HealthEquity #BetterTogether

#JPMH this year was one in a kind: #women's #health has taken center stage! Last year, I counted just two events—this year, I was hopping from one to the next. It's so motivating (and heartwarming) to see #investors, #biopharma, #privateequity, and #payors finally prioritizing women's health 💟 While those events shed light on under-diagnosis, funding gaps, and access issues, there’s still a massive gap between theory and practice. The people in the room seem to agree, but how do we bring those ideas to reality? I was particularly excited to learn about McKinsey Health Institute's follow-up report that offered clear calls to action: 𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏, 𝙎𝙏𝙐𝘿𝙔, 𝘾𝘼𝙍𝙀, 𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙇𝙐𝘿𝙀, and 𝙄𝙉𝙑𝙀𝙎𝙏 𝙄𝙉. Read it here: bit.ly/3WQbCcn. My personal added highlights: ⭐️a women's health luncheon in Napa Valley - thank you Springboard Enterprises & Snatch Health for hosting. What a peaceful way to start the JPMH madness. ⭐️a beautiful Sunday hike with European health tech founders - great initiative from Frontline Ventures ⭐️ a women's health focused brunch, hosted by our friends from Frame, Evvy, Partum Health - so good to meet so many old & new friends ⭐️ speaking at Open Austria's #femtech panel alongside another Austrian founder, Raoul Scherwitzl from Natural Cycles° ⭐️ creating an origami wish at SFMOMA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, hosted by Cathay Innovation What a start to the new year: here's to moving the needle for women's health! 💪

We’re so excited to welcome Reanna to the LEVY Health team as our new Senior Product Manager! 🎉 Reanna will be leading the charge in planning for all the amazing new clients using our #product. With a background in agency work, she brings the flexibility and adaptability needed to support our customers, each of whom is unique. 💙 The best health tip she’s ever received? "You can’t pour from an empty cup—prioritizing self-care is key." We love the perspective she brings and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make! 💫 #WelcomeToTheTeam #ReproductiveHealth #LEVYHealth