From Data to Diagnosis: AI’s Emerging Role in Women’s Health

By Elizabeth Westerhaus , VP, Group Director of Experience Strategy at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness

Healthcare powered by artificial intelligence (AI) may seem like a concept from a science fiction film, but it is today’s reality. We’re now in an era where AI algorithms play a pivotal role in advancing healthcare options for women. 

AI is revolutionizing the early detection and diagnosis of many health conditions that women face. Machine learning algorithms can analyze medical images like mammograms and ultrasounds with high accuracy, assisting in the early detection of breast cancer, cervical issues, and ovarian cysts. The FemTech market alone is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.3% from 2020 to 2025, with US companies leading the charge. It’s important for healthcare companies to understand this changing landscape in women’s health and consider the future possibilities that come with it to improve outcomes in women’s healthcare.

How Can AI Make a Difference in Women’s Health?

Compared to the traditionally reactive approach of conventional healthcare, AI-driven healthcare holds the promise of being more proactive by early identification and analysis of symptoms and conditions. This may have major implications for women, who often relegate the prioritization of their own health to the sidelines as they care for others or are dismissed in moments when they do raise their hands in need of a doctor's help. This has the potential to be especially true in vulnerable or historically underserved communities.

AI-driven healthcare has the potential to shine in:

Personalized diagnostics: AI can analyze vast amounts of patient data, including genetics, hormonal levels, and lifestyle factors, to pinpoint conditions women might be at risk of developing. Traditional diagnostics might not afford similar insights for targeted treatments. Already, AI-enhanced menstrual cycle tracking apps are becoming more sophisticated, providing women with valuable insights into their reproductive health, predicting fertile windows, detecting irregularities, and helping to manage conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (known as PCOS).

Predictive analysis: AI can predict potential health risks by analyzing genetic, environmental, and lifestyle data. AI can also assist in predicting and managing menopausal symptoms, helping women recognize and understand perimenopausal symptoms as they enter the next chapter of their lives. This means women can also take preventive measures for conditions they might be predisposed to, such as certain cancers or hormonal imbalances. 

Monitoring and feedback: Wearable devices integrated with AI can monitor vital signs, hormone levels, and other important metrics in real time. This allows for dynamic adjustments to treatment plans based on real-time feedback, ensuring the treatment remains optimized for the patient’s current medical status.

Enhanced drug interactions analysis: AI can quickly analyze potential drug interactions, ensuring that prescribed medications do not adversely react with each other or a woman’s unique biochemistry.

Mental health support: By analyzing behavioral patterns and self-reported feelings, AI tools can help in the early detection of mental health issues like postpartum depression, offering timely interventions.

AI Offers the Potential to Create Personalized Treatment Plans for Women

It may be difficult to imagine how an AI algorithm might go about creating a personalized treatment plan, but the key is data collection. With the right data, AI can analyze a problem and provide a range of specific solutions for consideration. By considering individual patient profiles, AI can help formulate treatment plans tailored to each woman’s unique physiological and genetic makeup. This reduces the “trial-and-error” treatment approach often found in traditional medicine.

For instance, AI can assist a woman aiming to conceive by analyzing the following factors:

• Menstrual cycle tracking
• Basal body temperature reading
• Cervical mucus analysis
• Hormone levels
• Data from wearables
• Medical history
• Lifestyle and environmental factors

If the AI system has substantial data on factors like these, it can create precise treatment plans that evolve to become increasingly accurate over time.

Are There Any Potential Challenges to Using AI in Women’s Health?

With any new advancement in healthcare, knowing its limitations is equally as important as knowing its benefits. Listed below are potential challenges to keep in mind before leaning into AI as a tool for women’s health:

1. Bias

While it’s true that the accuracy of AI outputs depend on collecting and reading data, there’s always the possibility that an AI algorithm could have inherent biases from its dataset. This can lead to problematic outcomes, such as health suggestions more suitable for men or other majority groups while not being applicable or effective for individuals from minority groups.

2. Data privacy

A major ethical consideration exists around transparency and consent. With AI algorithms gathering and analyzing highly personal data, healthcare systems need to be vigilant in protecting this data and transparent about how data is being collected, stored, and used. The apps and platforms that exist and collect this data need to be programmed for strict access vigilance to protect the privacy that their woman-identifying users require.

3. Lack of diversity

The lack of diversity in medical trials is a real issue with profound implications. For instance, one recent study found that Black individuals represent 5% of trial participants, while Hispanic/Latinx individuals represent less than 1%. For AI algorithms, diverse training datasets are crucial for fair, inclusive healthcare outcomes. Without inclusive data, algorithms might overlook critical products, services, or even perspectives essential to marginalized communities’ healthcare. Today, there is greater awareness of the importance of inclusive medical trials and data collection than ever before. Steps like more diverse AI teams and user education can also significantly impact the future of inclusive healthcare.

What Does the Future of AI Healthcare for Women Look Like?

As we continue to uncover the capabilities of AI, promising opportunities for healthcare systems and the improvement of women’s health outcomes are being revealed. Understanding AI’s role in women’s healthcare is about recognizing its potential as a valuable tool for comprehensive health and well-being. Though we are in the initial phases of discovering its full potential, the future of AI looks bright and brands should be thinking about how to leverage AI to improve overall outcomes in women’s health.