Can ChatGPT Help Couples Facing Fertility Issues?

Large language tools such as ChatGPT are being evaluated to see if they can answer the most common questions that people with fertility problems ask. The aim is to compare how well these AI responses match the clarity, usefulness and caring tone that doctors normally give.

Study Design

• Question set: 20 common infertility questions (e.g., “What are my chances of success with IVF?” and “How can I reduce stress during treatment?”).
• AI evaluation: A state‑of‑the‑art model answered each question.
• Human review: Medical specialists scored the AI answers for:
• Factual correctness
• Relevance to the specific question
• Empathy and supportive tone

Scoring was on a 1–5 scale for each criterion. The AI’s average scores were close to those of human experts, though it occasionally missed subtle details or offered generic reassurance.

Key Findings

• Speed & consistency: Patients appreciated the quick, easy‑to‑read explanations for basic questions.
• Limitations: For complex or emotionally charged topics—such as deciding whether to proceed with a treatment plan—the human touch remained essential.
• Potential role: AI could serve as a first line of help, providing clear information before patients speak to a doctor and freeing clinicians’ time for deeper counseling.

Recommendations

• AI should never replace professional medical advice.
• It works best when paired with a human review to ensure accuracy and compassion.

Outlook

Large language models show promise for answering fertility questions, but careful oversight is needed to maintain quality and empathy. Future research will explore real‑world clinical performance and the tool’s ability to support patients throughout their fertility journeys.