Ask an Expert: Everything You Need to Know About Pregmune
Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by Pregmune
The Pregmune PGM-1 identifies often-overlooked immunological causes for reproductive failure — and provides expert guidance for individualized treatment with your own doctor. They’re employing decades of clinical data, cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and the latest breakthroughs in reproductive immunology to understand the possible causes of unexplained infertility, miscarriages and IVF failures.
Today, we’re sharing an interview with Pregmune founder Dr. Andrea Vidali, where he’s answering community questions and explaining how Pregmune is helping those struggling to conceive.
Does Pregmune help with chemical pregnancies?
A chemical pregnancy refers to a miscarriage that occurs very early on in a pregnancy. This usually involves a positive pregnancy test, without a sign of a pregnancy seen on an ultrasound before the miscarriage occurred. There is no universal cure for a chemical pregnancy. A pregnancy loss may be caused by a variety of problems—and a solution has to be specific to the individual patient. It can be difficult to predict when a pregnancy will end early and therefore take measures to prevent it from happening. This is why we recommend a thorough evaluation, even in cases of recurrent biochemical pregnancies. The evaluation should include immunological testing.
How would this help with diminished ovarian reserve?
When we see diminished ovarian reserve in younger individuals, we have to be concerned about possible immunological causes. Additionally, the possibility of endometriosis has to be considered.
What do you do to help women struggling to conceive with PCOS?
PCOS is associated with lack of ovulation and inflammation. Many are not aware that individuals with PCOS are three times as likely to miscarry in the early months of pregnancy, as are individuals without PCOS. Some research shows that Metformin may reduce the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women with PCOS.
Are there immune issues that negatively impact egg and sperm quality?
Endometriosis is a common reason that some patients experience elevated FSH or low AMH due to oxidative stress. We have found through our extensive immune evaluation and vascular studies, a condition we refer to as "Silent Endometriosis" where patients do not have any of the classic symptoms of pain. These patients often present to our clinic with unexplained low AMH or elevated FSH that’s not consistent with their age. Proper surgical and immune therapy has led to successful pregnancies in many of these cases. Other causes of elevated FSH or low AMH include a genetic predisposition, which can be treated by stimulation protocols and supplements.
Sperm DNA damage is one of the main causes of male infertility and is multifactorial as seen in the Figure1. Among these factors, poor diet and obesity cause an increase in systemic inflammation and in reactive oxygen species production (oxidative stress)1. This is associated with damage to cellular biomolecules, such as DNA, in addition to damaging the acrosome reaction (activation of the spermatozoa in contact to the oocyte) and disrupting the sperm–oocyte recognition and fusion2, which ultimately lowers the odd for the fertilization to occur and produce an embryo.
Some of these problems can be corrected with a proper diet. Altogether, studies showed the beneficial impact of omega 3 in sperm parameters. Omega 3 levels in sperm correlate with serum levels and can be modulated by dietary omega 3 (EPA+DHA) supplementation to improve male fertility.
Is this something I should run by my RE? Does my DR need to approve it?
Most Reproductive Endocrinologists are familiar with immunology. Many of them aren’t very comfortable ordering these tests, mostly because it’s not something they do on a regular basis. Many of the Reproductive Endocrinologists who we work with find our report extremely helpful and are very happy to order it.
If not able to access this test, are there specific lab tests I could request from my DR?
In this case, our suggestion would be to get a referral to a Reproductive Immunologist.
Which countries can access the test?
Pregmune is currently available to U.S. patients. International patients staying in New York, New Jersey or Illinois for at least one month may also order the Pregmune report.
How do I order? Can it be billed through insurance?
Register for your account
Register for a free account on our patient portal and request your PGM-1 report by completing all patient forms and completing the New Patient Questionnaire online.
Return your completed Consult Request Form
Download the Consult Request Form (CRF) for your primary physician or fertility specialist to complete. Then return the completed form by email to care@pregmune.com, fax it to 1 (201) 928-5900 or upload it to our patient portal.
Pay online for your Pregmune PGM-1 report
Once we’ve reviewed and approved your completed Consult Request Form, we’ll send a confirmation email including your bill to be paid online through your account on our patient portal. Lab work is billed separately to you or to your insurance carrier from the independent laboratories to which Pregmune will order the required tests. Reimbursement eligibility and amount covered is dependent on your insurance carrier and plan.
Visit two local labs for lab work
We will order your lab work and send you the instructions to set up your appointments for blood work at two convenient lab locations. Lab work is billed separately to you or to your insurance carrier from the independent laboratories to which Pregmune will order the required tests. Reimbursement eligibility and amount covered is dependent on your insurance carrier and plan.
Get your personalized PGM-1 Report in about 7-8 weeks
Once we receive the lab results, we will process your report. You will receive an email when your report is available on our patient portal, and we will send it to your physician so together you can discuss the findings and plan for future treatments.
Pregmune providers are out-of-network with all insurance companies. The patient can attempt to submit a claim for reimbursement for the Pregmune PGM-1 Report cost to their insurance carrier by presenting the statement from Pregmune, which will include all the information and service codes that are required by most insurance carriers in order to evaluate reimbursement eligibility and amount.
How is the testing completed?
We will order your lab work and send you the instructions to set up your appointments for blood work at two convenient lab locations. Laboratory samples are collected and processed at external, independent laboratories; the patient will receive instructions on how to book appointments at the most convenient location. Every single lab test result is reviewed, validated and interpreted by a member of the Pregmune medical and research team.
By employing decades of clinical data, cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and the latest breakthroughs in reproductive immunology, Pregmune is able to identify the possible causes of unexplained infertility, miscarriages and IVF failures. Pregmune identifies often-overlooked immunological causes for reproductive failure — and provides expert guidance for individualized treatment with your own doctor.
Pregmune determines immunological causes for infertility, miscarriages, complications and IVF failures, while minimizing financial and emotional burden of repetitive high-cost low-success fertility treatments and delivering more successful outcomes by determining appropriate immunological follow-up care.
Your comprehensive Pregmune report will assist your physician in diagnosing and treating your reproductive issues. We advise that patients consult with a healthcare provider (gynecologist, reproductive endocrinologist or reproductive immunologist) to review their report.
When should you look into this?
Pregmune may be a good solution if you have a history of the following conditions:
Poor embryo quality
Recurrent pregnancy loss
Stillbirth
Pregnancy complications (preeclampsia or preterm labor)
Autoimmune diseases
Endometriosis
PCOS
Diminished ovarian reserve
Pregmune founder Dr. Andrea Vidali
To learn more about Pregmune, visit http://pregmune.com
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider or qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.