Flo is now FSA/HSA eligible
Published: 19 Feb 2025
It feels like artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days. In many ways, it is: AI is projected to add an estimated $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030.1
In health care, AI is brimming with promise. Already, AI has been used to provide therapy,2 discover superbug-killing antibiotics,3 and carry out surgeries.4
Obstetrics and gynecology are no exception: AI has been successfully used to monitor high-risk pregnancies, detect ovarian cancer and in ultrasound screenings.5
But is it all too good to be true? For all AI’s possibilities, concerns have been raised about the ethics of AI in healthcare.6
Read on to find out more about AI in the field of OB-GYNs. We’ll look at the potential benefits, risks and answer the question: will AI replace OB-GYNs?
The benefits of AI in OB-GYNs
First, what could AI bring to the world of OB-GYNs? In many ways, the use of AI in medicine is still in its infancy.
Perhaps its biggest benefit could be reducing administrative tasks for OB-GYNs. Too often, OB-GYNs find themselves swamped with paperwork: one 2024 survey by Medscape found that bureaucracy was cited as the leading cause of physician burnout.7
Instead of replacing OB-GYNs, AI could reduce their administrative burden so that they can focus on what matters most: taking care of patients. AI can help manage patients’ messages, streamline the billing process, and assist in completing documentation. In reality, AI won’t mean getting rid of OB-GYNs, but OB-GYNs who use AI are likely to benefit.
Dr. Jenna Beckham, an OB-GYN who sits on Flo’s Expert Board, has witnessed these benefits firsthand. “Probably the biggest benefit for providers is in time-saving,” she explains. “This can include reviewing records, sending messages, documenting visit notes, and even searching medical literature.”
Clinically, there are promising developments. In OB-GYNs specifically, AI has been successful in detecting breast cancer at an earlier stage when it is more treatable. One new AI tool was even shown to detect up to 13% more breast cancers than humans in screenings.8 Several AI systems which assist with breast imaging have even received clearance from the US Food & Drug Administration.9 Elsewhere, AI has been used to speed up ultrasound screenings10 and create personalized treatment plans for patients.
Is it all too good to be true?
As with any technology, AI presents risks. For example, AI models can exhibit biases if they are not truly representative of the demographics of a population. A case in point: one study showed that self-driving cars were less likely to identify pedestrians with darker skin tones than those with lighter skin tones. “Since AI models function solely on the data they receive as inputs, the data must represent accurate patient demographics and ensure equitable representation, otherwise, there could be room for bias or discrimination,” says Dr. Beckham.
Privacy is another concern. It’s important that companies using AI ensure the protection of users’ data. “Patient privacy is a concern with AI technology making sure the data is protected and not out there for all of the internet to have access to is important,” says Dr. Celestine. “It’s a patient safety and data protection issue.”
However, with robust procedures and data that accurately reflect the diversity of the population, AI can be used for good. As Dr. Beckham says: “I think AI has great power to improve the lives of OB-GYN providers and patients. It is also important that patients and providers do their best to learn about and remain informed of the uses of AI in healthcare and in their lives in general.”
AI and Flo
In a world of growing misinformation, patients can be tempted to listen to social media influencers over their physicians.12 In Flo’s reproductive health survey, only 28% of women said they would follow up to check the accuracy of health information they see on social media.13 AI has an important role to play in dispelling this misinformation. When used well, AI can present the right, high-quality health information to the patients who need it.
That’s what we do at Flo. Our users have access to more than 5,000 pieces of evidence-based educational content, including articles, videos, and courses. We collaborate with more than 140 physicians and health experts to create and peer-review all our content.
On its own, that would be an overwhelming amount of content, and it wouldn’t all be relevant to every user. That’s why in some cases we use AI to target this trusted content to the needs of individuals, exactly when they need it. Additionally, Flo uses machine learning (ML) techniques to make accurate cycle length predictions based on the information previously logged by the user, including their age, period dates, and symptoms.
What’s more, patients can choose to download a cycle report with their data from the past six months that they can share with their healthcare providers, paving the way for personalized treatment plans. As Dr. Beckham says: “AI can also be used to help patients better understand their own health data. Patients often receive lab results and imaging reports filled with medical jargon. AI can be used to help translate these results into more patient-friendly language.”
The results speak for themselves. In a randomized controlled trial of 438 people using our app, Flo improved health literacy, menstrual health awareness, health and well-being, and PMS/PMDD symptom burden, within three months.14
Ultimately, Flo uses AI to help women better understand their bodies. This is AI at its best – helping women to feel their best.
