At her<a href="http://schedule.sxsw.com/2014/events/event_IAP995218"> South-by-Southwest Interactive</a> keynote, 23andMe CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki explained that genetic information will soon be part of our everyday lives.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-20429" alt="Anne@sxsw" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Anne@sxsw-231x300.jpg" width="231" height="300" />
“Genetic information is reaching a critical mass,” Anne said.
<h6>Managing Your Health</h6>
As costs drop and as our understanding of genetics improves, the information locked in the genome will be a critical part of managing health for people. But how that information is accessed and interpreted is still being debated. Anne discussed the potential that this information has for people and for research.
Her talk<a href="http://schedule.sxsw.com/2014/events/event_IAP995218"> “The Future of Genetics in Our Everyday Lives”</a> was packed. One person on Twitter said it wasn’t just the longest line she’d seen in ten years at SXSW but the “longest line I’ve seen period.”
<h6>Prevention</h6>
During her talk and a question and answer session that followed and was moderated by journalist Kara Swisher, Anne reiterated the company’s core principles. She co-founded the company, in part, because she wanted to transform health care. Anne said she wanted to turn the industry’s paradigm on its head by creating a business built on preventing disease instead of one that profits from it. 
<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6A4wtpHZCQI" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0"></iframe>
“Genetic information is the basis for personalized medicine and it&#8217;ll help us make better decisions,&#8221; she said.
<h6>Research</h6>
23andMe allows people to contribute to research while learning about themselves. By attracting a large number of customers, the data from those participating in research is helping to accelerate the pace of discovery and give us more insight into disease.
In addition, by allowing people to join others and participate in research, 23andMe has the power to accelerate discoveries in the understanding of different diseases. The company is able to learn more about the genetic basis for disease, why some people are more likely to develop a disease than others and why some therapies work better on some people and not others.
With more than half a million people participating in research, the company has been able to do studies in a few months or years that would have taken others using traditional methods several decades.
<div id="attachment_20768" style="width: 650px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20768" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Future-of-Genetic-Infographic-copy1-640x360.jpg" alt="Here's an ImageThink artist's summary of Anne's talk." class="size-large wp-image-20768" width="640" height="360" />Here&#8217;s an ImageThink artist&#8217;s summary of Anne&#8217;s talk.</div>

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

The Future of Genetics in People’s Lives

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-20269" alt="Depression infographic" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Depression-infographic.jpg" width="690" height="447" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Depression-infographic.jpg 690w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Depression-infographic-300x194.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px" />
For the live-updated, fully-labeled, interactive version of this infographic, <a href="http://curetogether.com/depression/ig/treatment-effectiveness-vs-popularity">click here</a>.
By Alex Carmichael, Co-Founder of CureTogether
The top treatments for depression are simple lifestyle changes, according to patients who contributed to a new study by CureTogether, a free resource owned by 23andMe that allows people to share information about their health and treatments.

Participants in the study said they found that interventions like exercise, spending time with pets, and listening to music were the most effective for them in treating their depression. Conversely, some popular treatments such as alcohol, Paxil, and caffeine were among the least effective, according to the participants in the CureTogether survey.

Depression is the number one condition among participants in CureTogether, with 11,443 members contributing data on what works and doesn’t work for them. While many people feel sad from time to time, depression is a serious mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It often goes untreated, according to the National Institutes for Health. The participants in the CureTogether survey may not be diagnosed with clinical depression. They are self-reporting that they have depression and the associated symptoms. There are a number of causes and treatments for the condition. In this survey, participants pointed to stress and social isolation as the most common <a href="http://curetogether.com/depression/ig/treatment-effectiveness-vs-popularity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">causes of their depression</a>. 
study.

<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 200px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Top-Rated Treatments for Depression in Survey
1. Exercise
2. Spend time with a pet
3. Play outside
4. Music with exercise
5. Music therapy
6. Daily aerobic exercise
7. Daily sunlight exposure
8. Art therapy
9. Psychotherapy
10. Psychotherapy
*For a list of all the treatments listed in the survey go <a href="http://curetogether.com/depression/treatments/ae/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</div>

Participants in this survey also did not rank some of the most commonly used drugs for treating depression in their list of the top 25 effective treatments. But among the medication that many participants listed as effective were SSRIs, Xanax and  Low Dose Naltrexone.
Where did this data come from? This is the result of a five-year CureTogether study on <a href="http://curetogether.com/depression/treatments/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">depression,</a> in which people suffering from the condition shared information about their symptoms and treatment effectiveness.
We’d like to thank those who participated. And just as they shared their experience with depression treatments, we’re freely and openly sharing the results of the Depression 
This is part of a regular series of CureTogether <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/category/research-findings/">research findings</a>. CureTogether’s research findings are different than <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/factoids/">those made by 23andMe</a>, which look at genetic associations with illness, traits and drug response. But as we continue our work with the CureTogether community, 23andMe hopes to incorporate more of this kind of self-reported information into our own research. CureTogether present its findings just as they are — patient-reported data — to stimulate discussion and generate new insights for further research.


Please tweet, blog, or pass this along to anyone who can benefit or is interested in Depression. Thank you!

Alexandra Carmichael

What Patients Say Works For Depression

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-20229 aligncenter" alt="High Cholesterol Infographic" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/High-Cholesterol-Infographic.jpg" width="693" height="448" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/High-Cholesterol-Infographic.jpg 693w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/High-Cholesterol-Infographic-300x194.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 693px) 100vw, 693px" />For the live-updated, fully-labelled, interactive version of this infographic, <a href="http://curetogether.com/high-cholesterol/ig/treatment-effectiveness-vs-popularity" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.
By Alex Carmichael, Co-Founder of CureTogether
If part of your plan for 2014 is to eat healthier, exercise, and lower your cholesterol, this post is for you! Some of the most popular treatments for High Cholesterol are not necessarily the most effective, according to a new study by CureTogether, a free resource owned by 23andMe that allows people to share information about their health and treatments.
Participants in the study said they found that some drugs – including Statins, Crestor, and Lipitor – were the most effective. Conversely some popular treatments such as Fish oil and Vitamin D were among the least effective, according to the study. High Cholesterol affects millions of Americans. Finding treatments that work well is important to improve quality of life, so CureTogether asked people living with High Cholesterol to rate the effectiveness of different treatments.
CureTogether’s study compiled responses from 1,862 people with High Cholesterol, who rated the effectiveness of 19 different treatments. Among the most helpful treatments were statin drugs, weight loss, exercise, and quitting smoking. Also effective for those in the study were diet changes including reducing carbohydrates. The people in the study also said that cinnamon and garlic – both folk remedies –  were not as effective.
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 200px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Most Effective Rated Treatments for People with High Cholesterol 
1. Statins 
2. Crestor 
3. Lipitor 
4. Quit smoking 
5. Zocor 
6. Weight loss 
7. Niaspan 
8. No carbohydrates 
9. Exercise 
10. Red yeast rice</div>
Where did this data come from? This is the result of a four-year CureTogether study on <a href="http://curetogether.com/high-cholesterol/treatments/">High Cholesterol</a>, in which people suffering from the condition shared information about their symptoms and what treatments worked best for them. We’d like to thank those who participated. And just as they shared their experience with High Cholesterol treatments, we’re freely and openly sharing the results of the High Cholesterol study.
This is part of a regular series of CureTogether <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/category/research-findings/">research findings</a>. CureTogether’s research findings are different than <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/factoids/">those made by 23andMe</a>, which look at genetic associations with illness, traits and drug response. But as we continue our work with the CureTogether community, 23andMe hopes to incorporate more of this kind of self-reported information into our own research. CureTogether present its findings just as they are — patient-reported data — to stimulate discussion and generate new insights for further research.
Please tweet, blog, or pass this along to anyone who can benefit or is interested in High Cholesterol. Thank you!

What Patients Say Works For High Cholesterol

By Bertram Koelsch
Do you know the bacteria H. pylori? Well, H. pylori may already know you.
<div id="attachment_19894" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19894" class="size-medium wp-image-19894" alt="H. pylori" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/H.-pylori-300x206.jpg" width="300" height="206" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/H.-pylori-300x206.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/H.-pylori-768x528.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/H.-pylori-1024x704.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/H.-pylori-880x605.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/H.-pylori-1180x811.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/H.-pylori.jpg 1495w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />H. pylori, a bacterium that lives in the mucus of the stomach and tolerates acid. Electron micrograph courtesy of Manuel Amieva, Stanford University.</div>
H. pylori can be found in the stomach of 30-40 percent of people in the US and 70 percent or more of people in developing regions. Indeed, humans have a long-standing and intimate relationship with these bacteria. Researchers believe Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori for short) and humans have been living together for more than <a href="http://www.jci.org/articles/view/38605">50,000 years</a>!

While most people will go their entire lives without knowing they carry these bacteria, about 15 percent  of those harboring H. pylori will develop stomach problems. Thanks to <a href="http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2005/illpres/index.html">Nobel Prize</a>-winning research in the 1980s, H. pylori is now known to be <a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/data/Journals/JAMA/4432/jpg0917_1374_1374.pdf">linked to</a> serious stomach diseases including gastritis, peptic ulcers and stomach cancer.

When it does cause problems, treatment for H. pylori includes the use of a combination of  antibiotics and drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Common PPIs include Prilosec ® and Prevacid ®. PPIs reduce the stomach&#8217;s acidity, which lures H. pylori out from their hiding places in the stomach&#8217;s lining. Once in the stomach cavity, these bacteria can be effectively eradicated with antibiotics. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=19166419">Clinical research</a> over the past decade has shown that people who have certain genetic mutations metabolize or break down PPIs more slowly. These people are exposed to higher levels of the PPI drugs, allowing for better stomach acid reduction and improved H. pylori treatment success.

The effectiveness of PPIs at blocking stomach acid production depends on their drug levels in the blood. An enzyme in the liver named <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=Search&#038;term=23646118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CYP2C19 influences how quickly PPIs are metabolized</a> or broken down so that they can be cleared from the body. People with the &#8220;extensive metabolizer&#8221; genotype rapidly metabolize PPIs. On the other hand, people with the &#8220;poor metabolizer&#8221; genotype metabolize PPIs more slowly. These &#8220;poor metabolizers&#8221; have a higher success rate for treating H. pylori, since slower PPI metabolism leads to lower stomach acid levels for longer periods of time.

Bertram Koelsch

A Gut Bug, Genetics and Treating Serious Stomach Diseases

You learned to like the foods you grew up with, but did you know genetics also influence your food preferences? In addition to influencing your sensitivity to bitter and sweet flavors, genetics also affect brain chemistry and, therefore, how you respond to tastes or other sensory cues.
This Thanksgiving, 23andMe is celebrating all things food, and that starts with sharing what we know about the DNA of your holiday meal.
For example, do you have a sweet tooth? Research shows that people with the GG, AA, or AG genotypes consume, on average, more sugar per day than people with a GC or CC genotype. Those are the people heading straight for the pumpkin pie on Turkey Day!
This Thanksgiving, you’ll also be able to tell if the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/alcohol-flush-reaction">alcohol flush reaction</a> runs in the family. Relatives with no working copies of the ALDH2 gene are prone to a flushing extreme response from a glass of red wine, while your cousins who inherited two working copies will have little or no flushing reaction.
For people with specific food needs, Thanksgiving can be a challenge. Between 20 percent and 40 percent of us in the US and Europe are likely to be dealing with some form of lactose intolerance in adulthood. At the same time, more than two million Americans suffer from Celiac Disease, a condition that requires them to enjoy a gluten-free holiday feast.
Would you like to know if your ancestors passed down their love of sweets? Or maybe you want to know why you get wired from one cup of coffee? Your 23andMe results will give you a genetic profile that sheds light on:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
if you&#8217;re more likely to eat sweet things
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
the likelihood that you’ll overeat
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
how your body responds to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/wellness/caffeine-consumption/">caffeine</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
your sensitivity to lactose (the type of sugar found in milk)
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
if you should avoid gluten
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
your ability to taste Brussels sprouts and other bitter foods
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
if you flush from drinking
</li>
</ul>
Will your 23andMe results influence the way you eat? How will your Thanksgiving table look different now that you’ve investigated the genetic association with food?

The DNA of Thanksgiving

Maybe you’re planning to sport a <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19752 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/23andMe_Movember_FINAL.jpg" alt="" width="1300" height="1000" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/23andMe_Movember_FINAL.jpg 1300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/23andMe_Movember_FINAL-300x231.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/23andMe_Movember_FINAL-768x591.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/23andMe_Movember_FINAL-1024x788.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/23andMe_Movember_FINAL-880x677.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/23andMe_Movember_FINAL-1180x908.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px" />
It’s “No Shave November,” also known as <a href="http://us.movember.com/">Movember</a>, a time where many a man gives their razors a rest and grow a moustache to raise awareness for prostate cancer and other male cancers.
Here at 23andMe we’re a little scruffier than normal, but it’s all for the cause. We want to see what you’ve got on your upper lip, so show us your ‘stache and follow the conversation on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/23andMe">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/23andMe">Twitter</a>.

23andMovember

It turns out that genetics has a lot to do with whether someone will suffer from gout – the disease once associated with gluttonous indulgence and King Henry VIII.
Diet clearly plays a role, but genetics has a big influence on whether a person will develop this painful form of arthritis, which is caused by high uric acid levels.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-19518 size-full" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII.jpg" alt="" width="627" height="766" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII.jpg 627w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Henry-VIII-246x300.jpg 246w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" />
Estimates are that about four percent of people in the U.S. have gout at any given time, and 10-20 percent of people may suffer a gout attack at some point in their lives.
Gout has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades as rich diets have become more commonplace. But genetics also plays an important role in the condition, specifically variants in genes involved in the excretion of uric acid from the kidneys.
Variants in the genes ABCG2 and SLC2A9 are associated with increased risk for gout. The gene ABCG2 encodes a protein that transports uric acid out of cells, while SLC2A9 encodes a protein that helps regulate the amount of uric acid removed from the blood by the kidneys.
<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 250px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Editor’s note: 23andMe no longer offers customers a genetic health report on gout. Customers who purchased prior to November 22, 2013 will still be able to see an archive health reports.</div>
Gout can be quite painful. When the body produces too much uric acid, the uric acid can form crystals in the joints that trigger attacks from the immune system. Consuming rich foods, <a href="http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2013/09/10/annrheumdis-2013-203600.full">sugary drinks</a>, red meats and beer can increase the risk for developing the condition. For those at risk or who already have the condition, there are treatments and recommendations for keeping attacks at bay. Among the recommendations are staying well-hydrated, limiting the intake of red meat, beer and sugary drinks and regular monitoring of the uric acid level in your blood. There are also some<a href="http://gouteducation.org/medical-professionals/gout-treatment-options/"> medications</a> used to help control the condition. Gout is also associated with other conditions including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease and obesity.
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
&#8220;KING OF DISEASE&#8221;<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1890" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/smiling_dalmatian-150x150.jpg" alt="smiling_dalmatian" width="150" height="150" />
</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Everywhere there is DNA being made or broken down, there is uric acid. The build up of uric acid causes gout, but uric acid is also a molecule that is one of the building blocks of genes.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">So why is it that gout is an extremely rare disease in the animal kingdom?
The answer goes by the name &#8220;uricase.” This gene produces a protein that breaks down uric acid. Uricase evolved a very long time ago and exists in organisms ranging from<a href="http://www.ijps.ir/?_action=articleInfo&amp;article=1833"> single-celled bacteria</a> to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2594778">almost all vertebrates</a>. Its existence protects against uric acid build-up and, therefore, against gout.
Unfortunately, for us humans, the uricase gene in our DNA is so mutated it no longer works. But we are not the only species to suffer from the so-called “King of Disease.”
</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Dalmations also <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/gene-links-gout-in-humans-with-bladder-stones-in-dalmatian-dogs/">famously get gout</a>. In their case the mutations occur in a gene called SLC2A9 that helps excrete uric acid from the body. Interestingly, variations in this same gene are also associated with gout in humans. <a href="http://www.2ndchance.info/gout.htm">Most birds</a> and some reptiles also develop gout, especially when kept as pets. This seems to be the result of extremely high protein diets and kidney failure.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Perhaps the most surprising species afflicted with this disease is the T-rex. Fossil evidence of damaged joints have provided a convincing argument that the King of Dinosaurs, perhaps appropriately, harbored the King of Diseases. However, in this case, we may never be sure whether it was caused by a genetic mutation or a diet rich in red meats.</div>
<div style="float: center; text-align: justified; width: 600px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Fossil evidence of damaged joints have provided a convincing argument that the King of Dinosaurs, perhaps appropriately, harbored the King of Diseases. However, in this case, we may never be sure whether it was caused by a genetic mutation or a diet rich in red meats.
</div>

A 23andMe Gout Out

New rules issued by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier this month mean we may finally know what it means when a label on food we buy says “Gluten-Free.”<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-8468" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iStock_000014686955XSmall-300x199.jpg" alt="Flour wheat celiac" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iStock_000014686955XSmall-300x199.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iStock_000014686955XSmall.jpg 425w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
The new standards are hugely important for the more than 3 million Americans with celiac disease as well as many others who for other reasons may need to avoid gluten.
Gluten, a protein found in wheat, triggers a mistaken immune response in those with <a href="http://www.celiacdiseasecenter.org/">Celiac</a>. This in turn can damage the lining of the small intestines and undermine the absorption of nutrients, ultimately causing symptoms that range from stomachaches to diarrhea and iron deficiency.
For those without Celiac who are also trying to avoid gluten – namely people who have allergies to wheat or simply a gluten intolerance – <a href="https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/Allergens/ucm362880.htm">the new standards</a> are also important.
Now anyone buying food with a “gluten-free” label, knows that means that to get that label the food must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten.

New Standards Regulating Gluten Labeling

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-18384" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Vulvodynia-Graphic.jpg" alt="Vulvodynia Graphic" width="704" height="457" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Vulvodynia-Graphic.jpg 704w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Vulvodynia-Graphic-300x195.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px" />For the live-updated, fully-labelled, interactive version of this graphic, <a href="http://curetogether.com/vulvodynia/ig/treatment-effectiveness-vs-popularity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
By Alexandra Carmichael, Co-Founder of CureTogether
Nearly two years ago, CureTogether released a <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/2011/07/26/9-most-effective-vulvodynia-treatments/">list of the top patient-rated treatments for vulvodynia</a>, a common form of female reproductive pain that makes regular activities like wearing jeans or having sex extremely painful.
A staggering 20 percent of women will experience vulvodynia at some point in their lives, so we at <a href="http://curetogether.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CureTogether</a> decided it would be helpful to repeat the analysis and release an updated list of treatments rated by women living with the condition.
People in the study said they found that non-drug interventions like physical therapy, ice and wearing loose-fitting clothes were effective treatments. Conversely, those in the study said some treatments like NuvaRing, Replens, Capsaicin cream, and Lanacane actually made the condition worse.
These are all treatments suggested and reported by patients, so some redundancy in the terms used is to be expected. In addition, the term “treatment” in this study refers to anything patients describe using to help them feel better whether it is an officially prescribed medical treatment or not. 

<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 200px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">
Most Effective Rated Treatments for Women with Vulvodynia 
1. Wear loose-fitting clothes 
2. Ice 
3. No underwear 
4. Physical therapy 
5. Avoid sex 
6. Rinse with water after urination 
7. Trigger point therapy 
8. Mysofascial release 
9. Avoid bicycling 
10. Osteopathic manipulation
</div>
<a href="http://curetogether.com/vulvodynia/symptoms/">Vulvodynia</a>  is a very common kind of female pain, but it is rarely talked about because many women are embarrassed by it. CureTogether is a free resource owned by 23andMe, and it allows people to share information about their health and treatments. In turn they can learn from others dealing with the same conditions.
CureTogether’s study compiled responses   over four years from 1,969 people with vulvodynia, who rated the effectiveness of 120 different treatments. We’d like to thank those who participated. And just as they shared their experience with treatments, we’re freely and openly sharing the results of the vulvodynia study. We hope this will help raise awareness and let people feel like they’re not alone.
This is part of a regular series of CureTogether <a href="http://curetogether.com/blog/category/research-findings/">research findings</a>. CureTogether’s research findings are different than <a href="https://www.23andme.com/about/factoids/">those made by 23andMe</a>, which look at genetic associations with illness, traits and drug response. But as we continue our work with the CureTogether community, 23andMe hopes to incorporate more of this kind of self-reported information into our own research. CureTogether present its findings just as they are – patient-reported data – to stimulate discussion and generate new insights for further research.
Please tweet, blog, or pass this along to anyone who can benefit or is interested in vulvodynia. Thank you!

Health + Traits — Page 25