About LEILA by Silvia

Silvia, what do you want to change with LEILA?

I'd like to see women not having to hunt down various doctors over many years to find out why they haven't been able to get pregnant.

You have been in the medical field for many years and are particularly concerned with women's health. Why?

It happened by coincidence. I was editor in chief for neurology at a medical publishing house, and I really liked it. When the CEO asked me if I wanted to take on an international journal in obstetrics & gynaecology, I was not happy. But then I ended up really digging it. Turns out that I had totally underestimated how broad women's health is: there is pregnancy care, perinatal medicine, obstetrics, sexual health, birth control, surgical gynaecology, the many types of women-specific cancerous diseases, genital infections, and the HPV vaccine also immunology. And then there is of course the vast field of endocrinology and ageing, and reproductive medicine - my favourite. Women's health is so comprehensive that many OB/Gyns have specialised in a few areas only. What struck me when I was in my early twenties was that most gynaecologists in Austria were male. So there is a 55-year-old guy explaining the structure of my ovaries and that the particular pain I'm describing cannot exist. I was fascinated by how little so many women know about their bodies and that men explain female biology to them. I still am today, because most specialists in reproductive medicine, especially doctors running IVF clinics, are men. I can't wrap my head around it.

You are one of the co-founders of LEILA and the CPO. What are the most important skills and strengths you bring for your position?

On the one hand, my experience. I have seen the user journey from different angles: I have struggled with infertility myself, I worked as a fertility coach, and I managed a fertility clinic. On the other hand, my education. I hold two Master's degrees, one in information science, one in public health, which helps a lot in building a digital health product.

What was your biggest success with LEILA so far?

That a friend of mine, who recently suffered a miscarriage and who volunteered to be an early product tester for LEILA, found out she had a thyroid disorder and is now getting treatment.

Finally, where do you see LEILA in 3 years?

I see LEILA in the middle of the reproductive health ecosystem, offering services to women while connecting OB/Gyns, fertility coaches, dietitians, laboratories, fertility clinics, and various providers in women's health.