We love hearing from you. Your stories inspire us and others!

Tell us your 23andMe story!

We love hearing how people all over the world are benefiting, learning and engaging with their genetics. Your stories inspire us and inspire others!

We look forward to hearing your story and finding out what you discovered using 23andMe.

Does your story focus on (choose as many that apply):
Take as much space as you need to give us some details about your 23andMe story. Did using 23andMe inspire you to take healthier actions like exercising more, eating healthier or getting more rest? Did you get a heads-up about your health? Did you share your 23andMe report with your doctor? Or maybe you got a surprise about your ancestry? We want to hear how 23andMe helped you discover something new.

Which gene could help those you love?

Kenzie

Kenzie, a nurse, and her mom Shannon are closer than the average mother and daughter, sharing a love of traveling together and their favorite foods. When Kenzie purchased 23andMe as a gift for herself and saw a BRCA1 variant in her 23andMe report, one of her first thoughts was “Could my mom have cancer and not know it?” She immediately knew she had to call her mom. “Mom, I have this gene, and I think you need to get tested.”

The two of them made appointments with their doctors for confirmatory testing. After doing so, both were able to take steps to minimize their risks. While Mackenzie is opting to go for a less aggressive route of frequent scans and discussing family planning options, Shannon (a cancer survivor), decided to go ahead with preventative surgeries to lower her risk of developing BRCA-associated cancers.

Both have found new inspiration and an even closer bond throughout their journey. “I'm really proud of my mom, she's taken her health into her hands. Her life is the most important thing to me, she's had both surgeries and decreased her risk greatly. She wanted to show me that she will survive”

Which gene could empower you?

Melissa

Melissa developed symptoms of a pulmonary embolism (PE), a blood clot in the lung, after a cross-country flight from Washington to Boston for a nurses conference. The symptoms were atypical but as an RN she knew after a few days that something was wrong. Her 23andMe results showing she had the markers for Factor V Leiden (which is associated with a slightly increased risk of developing harmful blood clots) prompted Melissa to go to the ER in Boston before taking a return flight.

Trusting her nurse's instinct, she pushed to get confirmatory testing done. “I am not typically really insistent, but I was really insistent on this. I am absolutely sure it's going to happen again and I may not have another chance. And I wasn't willing to take that chance again.” They confirmed via a blood test and CAT scan that she had developed a PE.

She began taking a blood thinner right away so she could fly home. Melissa credits her knowledge of the gene with empowering her to take her health into her own hands. “Because I was aware of that gene, and my doctors were aware of that gene, that continues to save my life.”

Gratified by her results, empowered by her discovery

Brigitte

Data-driven triathlete benefits from DNA insights

Steven

As both an athlete and as a professional who studies the metrics of cycling, Steven Diffey takes health and wellness seriously. His 23andMe results, combined with his own knowledge and research, lead to him to make changes to his training regimen. They also help him understand why he excels at shorter sprints. He and his sister have both taken the test and he hopes more family members will soon.

Discovering his identity

Alec Newton

Alec signed up for 23andMe because he was interested in knowing about his health. But his real surprise came from his ancestry findings. Knowing the facts changed his sense of identity and opened him up to new connections - people who share some of his DNA. He enjoys the bonds that are based upon science, not story, and says his 23andMe experience has put a big smile on his face.

The "shifting sands of science"

David Brown

When David joined 23andMe, he was fascinated by all the scientific implications of DNA testing. He was particularly keen to discover his Neanderthal ancestry and how it fits in with migration patterns throughout Europe and Asia. An academic working in the field of social linguistics, David has made his own migration – traveling from his native South Africa to the UK for work. He continues to review his 23andMe results regularly and finds it gives him interesting perspectives.

A curious mind wants to know

Elena Falleti

Italian Elena Falleti moved to the UK 26 years ago when she first met her husband. She has an inquisitive mind and was first drawn to 23andMe because she wanted to know if she may be at increased risk for certain diseases. What surprised her was how engaging the whole experience was - from the information she learned about herself, to the way that information was delivered. She found some surprises in her ancestry and learned more about her genetic traits and health risks - some which were consistent with her personal experience.

A journey into ancestry

Sally Redfern

A health scare in the family prompted Sally Redfern to look into genetic testing, as a way to learn more about her own traits and health risks. But what surprised her were her ancestry reports. They launched her on a journey to discover more about her biological father (whom she never knew) and her extended family. She has discovered DNA relatives all over the world and is building an understanding of her family history.

DNA testing - a family affair

Tammi Willis / Kim Willis / Gareth Iwan Jones

Tammi Willis, her sister Kim and brother-in-law Gareth share these traits: intellectual curiosity and a passion for health. So it made sense for all three of them to test their DNA with 23andMe. What did they discover? That yes, Kim and Tammi are full-blooded sisters, even though Kim often wondered if her darker complexion hinted at some exotic ancestry. That no, Gareth does not have a common risk factor for Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, even though some family members have the disease. And yes, the grandfather who changed his surname in 1914 may have been the source of Kim and Tammi's Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

Thirst for knowledge

Sophie Palmer

When Sophie Palmer's family took her out for a birthday tea and surprised her with the 23andMe kit as a gift, she was nearly in tears. Sophie studies biology and genetics and had wanted to test her own DNA for a long time. She knew the kind of fascinating information that was waiting for her. Sophie discovered a few surprises and some confirmations of genealogy research her grandfather had started. Next she wants to dig into the raw data to learn as much as she can about her genetics.

Disclaimer:
This data has undergone a general quality review however only a subset of markers have been individually validated for accuracy. The data from 23andMe’s Browse Raw Data feature is suitable only for informational use and not for medical, diagnostic or other use. Consult with a healthcare professional before making any major lifestyle changes.

Transformed her health

Sabrina Peoples

Sabrina Peoples battled health issues for years — stomach pain, low energy and a general malaise. It got worse as she got older. She tried 23andMe for the ancestry, not thinking much about the health reports. When she saw she was likely lactose intolerant, she was shocked. She met with her doctor and he did testing to confirm the test result. Right away Sabrina cut out all dairy and she immediately began to feel better. Now she has plenty of energy and feels fantastic.

Welsh genealogist surprised by her ancestry

Elizabeth Rawlings

Liz Rawlings is an avid genealogist - and has been since she was 14 years old. She became interested in DNA testing as part of a community effort to explore the Flemish roots of her small village in Wales. What she discovered surprised her - instead of the French & German ancestry that she expected, she had a greater percentage of British & Irish ancestry. She even has a dash of Viking DNA, which she thinks might be the source of her daughter's red hair!

Genetics just got personal.®

These are the stories of 23andMe customers. Your experience may be different since everybody's DNA is unique.

Which gene could help those you love?

“I'm really proud of my mom, she's taken her health into her hands.”

Kenzie, a nurse, and her mom Shannon are closer than the average mother and daughter, sharing a love of traveling together and their favorite foods. When Kenzie purchased 23andMe as a gift for herself and saw a BRCA1 variant in her 23andMe report, one of her first thoughts was “Could my mom have cancer and not know it?” She immediately knew she had to call her mom. “Mom, I have this gene, and I think you need to get tested.”

The two of them made appointments with their doctors for confirmatory testing. After doing so, both were able to take steps to minimize their risks. While Mackenzie is opting to go for a less aggressive route of frequent scans and discussing family planning options, Shannon (a cancer survivor), decided to go ahead with preventative surgeries to lower her risk of developing BRCA-associated cancers.

Both have found new inspiration and an even closer bond throughout their journey. “I'm really proud of my mom, she's taken her health into her hands. Her life is the most important thing to me, she's had both surgeries and decreased her risk greatly. She wanted to show me that she will survive”

Which gene could empower you?

“For me knowing more about my health profile is empowering and it gave me some control”

Melissa developed symptoms of a pulmonary embolism (PE), a blood clot in the lung, after a cross-country flight from Washington to Boston for a nurses conference. The symptoms were atypical but as an RN she knew after a few days that something was wrong. Her 23andMe results showing she had the markers for Factor V Leiden (which is associated with a slightly increased risk of developing harmful blood clots) prompted Melissa to go to the ER in Boston before taking a return flight.

Trusting her nurse's instinct, she pushed to get confirmatory testing done. “I am not typically really insistent, but I was really insistent on this. I am absolutely sure it's going to happen again and I may not have another chance. And I wasn't willing to take that chance again.” They confirmed via a blood test and CAT scan that she had developed a PE.

She began taking a blood thinner right away so she could fly home. Melissa credits her knowledge of the gene with empowering her to take her health into her own hands. “Because I was aware of that gene, and my doctors were aware of that gene, that continues to save my life.”

Data-driven triathlete benefits from DNA insights

"This is so bold and so audacious -- and I think it’s for the good of humanity."

As both an athlete and as a professional who studies the metrics of cycling, Steven Diffey takes health and wellness seriously. His 23andMe results, combined with his own knowledge and research, lead to him to make changes to his training regimen. They also help him understand why he excels at shorter sprints. He and his sister have both taken the test and he hopes more family members will soon.

Discovering his identity

"For the first time I knew exactly who I was."

Alec signed up for 23andMe because he was interested in knowing about his health. But his real surprise came from his ancestry findings. Knowing the facts changed his sense of identity and opened him up to new connections - people who share some of his DNA. He enjoys the bonds that are based upon science, not story, and says his 23andMe experience has put a big smile on his face.

The "shifting sands of science"

"The health reports give you lots of information to ponder."

When David joined 23andMe, he was fascinated by all the scientific implications of DNA testing. He was particularly keen to discover his Neanderthal ancestry and how it fits in with migration patterns throughout Europe and Asia. An academic working in the field of social linguistics, David has made his own migration – traveling from his native South Africa to the UK for work. He continues to review his 23andMe results regularly and finds it gives him interesting perspectives.

A curious mind wants to know

"The whole experience was magic!"

Italian Elena Falleti moved to the UK 26 years ago when she first met her husband. She has an inquisitive mind and was first drawn to 23andMe because she wanted to know if she may be at increased risk for certain diseases. What surprised her was how engaging the whole experience was - from the information she learned about herself, to the way that information was delivered. She found some surprises in her ancestry and learned more about her genetic traits and health risks - some which were consistent with her personal experience.

A journey into ancestry

"There's a lot of entertainment value to the experience."

A health scare in the family prompted Sally Redfern to look into genetic testing, as a way to learn more about her own traits and health risks. But what surprised her were her ancestry reports. They launched her on a journey to discover more about her biological father (whom she never knew) and her extended family. She has discovered DNA relatives all over the world and is building an understanding of her family history.

DNA testing - a family affair

"It's fascinating – so much information, so thorough and fun. Everyone should do it."

Tammi Willis, her sister Kim and brother-in-law Gareth share these traits: intellectual curiosity and a passion for health. So it made sense for all three of them to test their DNA with 23andMe. What did they discover? That yes, Kim and Tammi are full-blooded sisters, even though Kim often wondered if her darker complexion hinted at some exotic ancestry. That no, Gareth does not have a common risk factor for Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, even though some family members have the disease. And yes, the grandfather who changed his surname in 1914 may have been the source of Kim and Tammi's Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

Thirst for knowledge

"It's the scientist in me – I have to know everything!"

When Sophie Palmer's family took her out for a birthday tea and surprised her with the 23andMe kit as a gift, she was nearly in tears. Sophie studies biology and genetics and had wanted to test her own DNA for a long time. She knew the kind of fascinating information that was waiting for her. Sophie discovered a few surprises and some confirmations of genealogy research her grandfather had started. Next she wants to dig into the raw data to learn as much as she can about her genetics.

Disclaimer:
This data has undergone a general quality review however only a subset of markers have been individually validated for accuracy. The data from 23andMe’s Browse Raw Data feature is suitable only for informational use and not for medical, diagnostic or other use. Consult with a healthcare professional before making any major lifestyle changes.

Transformed her health

"This has been life changing!"

Sabrina Peoples battled health issues for years — stomach pain, low energy and a general malaise. It got worse as she got older. She tried 23andMe for the ancestry, not thinking much about the health reports. When she saw she was likely lactose intolerant, she was shocked. She met with her doctor and he did testing to confirm the test result. Right away Sabrina cut out all dairy and she immediately began to feel better. Now she has plenty of energy and feels fantastic.

Welsh genealogist surprised by her ancestry

"I am very, very impressed."

Liz Rawlings is an avid genealogist - and has been since she was 14 years old. She became interested in DNA testing as part of a community effort to explore the Flemish roots of her small village in Wales. What she discovered surprised her - instead of the French & German ancestry that she expected, she had a greater percentage of British & Irish ancestry. She even has a dash of Viking DNA, which she thinks might be the source of her daughter's red hair!

*The 23andMe PGS test includes health predisposition and carrier status reports. Health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and reports which are based on 23andMe research and have not been reviewed by the FDA. The test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks and reporting carrier status. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future, the health of your fetus, or your newborn child's risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. Warnings & Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of 44 variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The report describes if a person's genetic result is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer and may be associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and potentially other cancers. The variants included in this report do not represent the majority of the BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in people of most ethnicities. This report does not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in this report does not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed in a clinical setting before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk and carrier status report, visit 23andme.com/test-info/

**23andMe PGS Pharmacogenetics reports: The 23andMe test uses qualitative genotyping to detect 3 variants in the CYP2C19 gene, 2 variants in the DPYD gene and 1 variant in the SLCO1B1 gene in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting information about the processing of certain therapeutics to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. It does not describe if a person will or will not respond to a particular therapeutic and does not describe the association between detected variants and any specific therapeutic. Our CYP2C19 Pharmacogenetics report provides certain information about variants associated with metabolism of some therapeutics and provides interpretive drug information regarding the potential effect of citalopram and clopidogrel therapy. Results for SLCO1B1 and DPYD and certain CYP2C19 results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action. Warning: Test information should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment and does not test for all possible variants that may affect metabolism or protein function. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional. Making changes to your current regimen can lead to harmful side effects or reduced intended benefits of your medication, therefore consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding Pharmacogenetics reports, visit 23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/