Increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping OB/GYN practices care for patients. This collection of FAQs will reveal how AI is improving in vitro fertilization (IVF), prenatal ultrasound, and urogynecology.
Many misconceptions surround the potential of AI in obstetrics and gynecology. This collection of frequently asked questions helps clear up common myths and describes promising future applications of this technology. Learn about real-world examples of how AI is making a difference for OB/GYN practices and the patients they care for.
- Will the use of AI in obstetrics and gynecology help or hurt clinicians? Some clinicians fear AI will eliminate jobs. However, the more likely scenario is that AI won't replace workers but will instead improve how they complete tasks. AI capabilities being explored with OB/GYN ultrasound include helping sonographers recognize anatomical boundaries, advising sonographers about how to move probes for better images, and measuring anatomy and anomalies found during imaging. Learn more in this article about these advances and how AI could improve the real-world work of clinicians.
- Can AI improve IVF treatment costs and outcomes? IVF and assisted reproductive technology (ART) can be costly and offer no guarantee of success. Researchers are applying AI and machine learning (ML) to ever-growing data sets in hopes of pinpointing the best embryos and reducing the time-intensive manual labor of the process. This article describes how AI could soon reduce the cost burden of IVF, relieve clinical workloads, and significantly improve patient outcomes.
- Can an AI algorithm predict embryo success in IVF? The short answer to that question is "Not yet." However, current research suggests that AI might soon make IVF success more reliable and improve women's healthcare overall. This article describes several new technologies in development and research currently underway to improve the IVF process for patients and physicians.
- How is AI advancing the urogynecology practice? AI quickly analyzes large data sets. The ability to automate and speed up review of data can make clinical tasks faster and more efficient. Today, AI ultrasound tools simplify pelvic floor anatomy assessments and reduce repetitive clinical work. AI algorithms now in development may soon predict prolapse surgery outcomes and help screen patients for urinary tract infections and incontinence. Learn more about the AI tools available now and those in development that will soon improve OB/GYN practices and patient care.
- Can prenatal ultrasound improve outcomes for babies born with CHD? Roughly 240,000 babies per year are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). Dr. Balu Vaidyanathan of Kerala, India, has been using AI-enhanced prenatal ultrasound to diagnose CHD during pregnancy and plan for appropriate care immediately after birth. Read about the specific technologies Dr. Balu uses and how they improve survival rates at his facility.
- What is the future of AI in healthcare in the OB/GYN practice? Patients already use AI-guided health apps like fitness trackers and ovulation apps. However, that information is rarely discussed with or asked for by physicians. Sonographers also share images to large data sets that may one day inform how ultrasounds are assessed. Learn how OB/GYN practices can prepare today for the benefits that AI in obstetrics and gynecology may bring tomorrow.
AI in obstetrics and gynecology is being used today to improve patient care and make OB/GYN and sonographer workloads faster, more efficient, and more accurate. As AI's role becomes more prevalent in fertility treatments and sonography, OB/GYNs should prepare to integrate this technology into their practices.
