Fertility couple credits GPT-4 with finding missed uterine fibroid

A chatbot for fertility questions

In a guest post by Drew Housman, the writer describes a six-year infertility struggle in which he and his wife produced healthy embryos but embryo transfers did not succeed. After the case was described as unexplained infertility, the couple used GPT-4 for detailed questions they lacked time to ask during medical visits.

Housman says early refusals led him to ask ChatGPT for a Hollywood medical drama featuring a doctor. The resulting character, named Dr. Reid, answered questions about scans, estradiol and progesterone levels, follicle counts, inflammation, hysteroscopies, supplements and surgeon recommendations. He says spot checks with human doctors generally matched Dr. Reid's answers, although the chatbot sometimes misread an ultrasound and was blocked by OpenAI rules.

An MRI reveals a large fibroid

Dr. Reid suggested that Housman's wife have an MRI, even though she had already undergone an extensive range of scans, tests and biopsies during six years of treatment. Her fertility doctor was less enthusiastic but eventually ordered the scan. It found a previously undetected submucosal fibroid measuring 6 centimeters in diameter in the wall of her uterus. The clinical notes said the non-cancerous growth needed to be removed.

The couple chose an in-network surgeon in New York from a list produced by Dr. Reid. Housman's wife underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy, and Housman credits the chatbot with directing them toward both the scan and a specialist who could address the problem.

Pregnancy follows surgery

Almost immediately after the fibroid was removed, Housman's wife became pregnant naturally. Their son was later named Reed, and Housman noticed a possible connection between the name and Dr. Reid. He says the experience showed him that AI can help regular people while also acknowledging his concerns about its development. He argues that more work is needed to make it safe.