AI has the power to revolutionize women’s healthcare.
Our healthcare system and scientific research have long been centered on male data - women were only mandated to be included in U.S. research and clinical trials in 1993 - yet, some of the most polarizing debates revolve around women’s health - particularly reproductive rights. Does AI have the potential to redefine women’s healthcare?
Nature cites funding for research on women as “still a fraction of that available for men’s health” (2023). “These days, ‘many investigators are reluctant to emphasize sex differences in their research because of the emotional turmoil surrounding the evolving complexity of what gender means and what sex means” Time quotes Dr. Marianne J. Legato, emerita professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University. Women are not simply smaller versions of men. Women’s bodies differ significantly from men’s in terms of organs, genes, hormones, and numerous other biological aspects. Assuming women will react to medical treatments in the same way as men can be misleading and potentially dangerous.
The increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in healthcare has the potential to transform this fundamental issue and offer innovative solutions tailored to women’s unique healthcare concerns. Although the medical field is innately interpersonal, and it is important for it to stay so, AI has the power to make significant improvements in medical equity across the board. Specifically, in the advanced analysis of medical scans and test results, empathetic understanding of patient pain levels through voice analysis, and the general surge of women-focused healthcare startups (from postpartum care to managing menopause) leveraging AI technologies.
AI algorithms excel at analyzing large datasets and identifying patterns that may elude human practitioners. In women’s healthcare, AI-driven analysis of medical scans and test results can enhance diagnostic accuracy and reduce biases inherent in individual practitioners. For instance, AI models have been developed to improve breast cancer detection in mammography. A study published in Nature demonstrated that an AI system outperformed radiologists in detecting breast cancer, reducing false positives and negatives (McKinney et al., 2020). These tools can significantly improve diagnostic precision, offering a promising solution to long-standing biases in healthcare that have historically disadvantaged women. By catching nuances earlier than traditional methods, AI could address conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which are often misdiagnosed or ignored due to a lack of awareness or gender bias. Such advancements not only save lives but also cut costs, streamlining care for patients and providers alike.
AI, the Empath?
“Why had no one taken them seriously when they told them about their pain?”
This question, taken from the ‘The Retrievals’ a podcast produced by the New York Times on the Yale Fertility Clinic scandal, is core to the inequity in women’s care.
AI is breaking new ground in understanding and validating patient pain. Technologies like Hume AI are using machine learning to analyze voice tone, facial expressions, and language, offering more accurate assessments of pain levels. This is especially significant for African American women, who are frequently undertreated for pain due to systemic biases. AI tools could help healthcare providers better understand these patients' experiences and improve bedside manners. By providing objective measures of discomfort, AI has the potential to replace subjective biases, ensuring no patient’s pain is overlooked.
The rise of women-focused healthcare startups is another transformative trend accelerated by AI. Companies like Tia and Maven Clinic are leveraging AI to offer personalized care solutions for menopause, postpartum recovery, and fertility. These startups reflect a growing market recognition that women’s health is not a niche area but a vast, underserved sector with immense potential.
For instance, AI-powered platforms can provide holistic guidance during life transitions like motherhood or menopause, centralizing resources for users. Such solutions underscore how AI is empowering women to take charge of their health, pushing the boundaries of what tailored care can achieve.
The Risks: Bias, Hallucinations, and Over-Reliance
While AI’s potential is vast, its risks are equally significant. Gender biases, often embedded in historical healthcare data, can perpetuate inequalities if not addressed. For example, algorithms trained on male-dominated datasets might underperform in diagnosing women’s conditions. AI systems might oversimplify the complexities of women's healthcare by failing to consider intersectionality - how race, age, socioeconomic status, and other factors intersect with gender to influence health outcomes. For instance, AI models trained on homogeneous datasets might neglect the specific healthcare challenges faced by women of color or older women and may lead to incomplete or inaccurate care recommendations.
AI-driven women’s healthcare solutions also raise significant ethical concerns around data privacy and informed consent. Many apps and platforms collect sensitive information, such as menstrual cycles, fertility details, and mental health data, which could be vulnerable to misuse or data breaches. In the wake of increasing abortion restrictions in the U.S., some menstrual tracking apps have taken steps to enhance user privacy. For instance, Flo introduced an “Anonymous Mode” that allows users to access the app without providing personal identifiers, and Clue assured users it would not share private health data with American authorities, emphasizing its compliance with strict European privacy laws. These measures highlight the growing need for robust data security and transparent policies to protect sensitive health information and empower users to make informed decisions about their healthcare data.
Another concern is hallucination - when AI generates false or misleading information. In critical healthcare scenarios, such inaccuracies could have dire consequences. Over-reliance on AI poses an additional risk, potentially devaluing human intuition and empathy, essential elements of effective care.
To mitigate these risks, developers must prioritize transparency, fairness, rigid adherence to HIPPA and other data security regulations, and rigorous testing of AI systems. Regulatory bodies must enforce standards to ensure these technologies benefit all patients equally.
A Balanced Future for AI in Women’s Healthcare
AI has the power to revolutionize women’s healthcare by addressing long-standing gaps in diagnosis, empathy, and personalized care. However, this transformation must be approached with caution. By combining innovative technologies with ethical safeguards, we can ensure AI enhances care without replicating existing biases.
Government support for women’s healthcare startups and initiatives could catalyze this transformation further. By funding innovative AI solutions and fostering a regulatory environment that promotes equity, governments not only help improve the quality of care for women but also reap broader societal benefits. Healthier women lead to stronger families, more productive workforces, and more resilient communities. Supporting women’s healthcare innovation is not just an investment in women - it’s an investment in everyone.
