When Julia set out to create Athena, she wasn’t chasing a business idea. She was chasing answers. What she found instead was a system that told her to wait. And when she couldn’t find what she needed, she built it herself.
We sat down with Julia to talk about her journey, Athena’s mission, and why understanding your fertility shouldn’t come with hoops to jump through.
Meet Julia - and the Moment That Sparked Athena
Q: Julia, what led you to start Athena?
Julia: *“Athena really started from personal frustration.
I wanted to get my fertility tested here in the Netherlands, not because I was trying to get pregnant right away, but because I wanted to be proactive about my future. I’ve always imagined having kids a bit later in life, but I also knew that biology doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment.
When I started looking into testing, it was way harder than I expected. I kept hearing things like, “come back when you’re trying,” or, “you’re still young, I’m sure everything’s fine.” There was this unspoken rule that you needed to justify your curiosity with a crisis. But I wasn’t in a crisis. I just wanted clarity. And there was no space for that.”*
Why we need Athena
Q: What gap do you see Athena filling?
Julia: *“I realised I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. So I started digging into how fertility testing actually worked and what was missing. And when I couldn’t find anything that felt simple, accessible, or judgment-free, I decided to build it.
The truth is, women are having kids later. The average age for a first-time mom in the Netherlands is 30.3. Yet no one’s really talking to the women in the middle - the ones who are curious, planning ahead, or simply want to know what’s going on with their bodies.
We deserve access to information before things get complicated. Athena is really about giving women the power to ask questions early, and on their own terms.”*
The Numbers That Matter
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1 in 6 couples face infertility.
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1 in 10 women will be diagnosed with PCOS.
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1 in 8 women have a thyroid disorder.
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Fertility starts to decline around 30 and drops sharply after 35.
Knowing the facts early can make all the difference.
The Athena Test
Athena’s at-home test is simple, discreet, and powerful.
With just a finger prick, you’ll get a full breakdown of your fertility hormones - AMH (egg reserve), FSH, LH, TSH, and Testosterone - processed in a certified lab.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✔ How many eggs you might have left
✔ Whether your thyroid could be affecting mood, energy, or cycles
✔ If PCOS might be impacting your fertility
✔ Early clues about when menopause might begin
Why women love Athena:
- No clinics, no referrals, no hassle
- Certified lab testing
- Delivered in 1–2 days
- Results within 5 days
- An easy‑to‑read online report that makes sense
Our Special Collaboration
We’re thrilled to partner with Athena Fertility to offer After5 members an exclusive promotion:
€149 for the test, with 20% off for the next few days.
(Use discount code AFTER5 at checkout)
Curious? Planning ahead? Or simply want to know what’s going on with your body?
Explore Athena Fertility today and take control of your future, on your own terms.
Click here for more information
