Women Turn to AI For Conception and Pregnancy Advice

Demystifying Conception with an AI Tutor

For Mandy Hoskinson, the journey to conceive her child involved a unique partner: ChatGPT. Overwhelmed by the complex world of trying to conceive (TTC), she turned to the AI last year with a host of questions. She asked about average conception times for her age, the effectiveness of folk remedies like elevating legs after sex, and the benefits of specific foods.

The internet's sea of acronyms—like TTC, FTM (first-time mom), and DPO (days post-ovulation)—was confusing. While Hoskinson used a period tracking app, she felt something was missing. ChatGPT became her personal science tutor. "I was able to ask my dumb questions in a bunch of different ways and that helped me understand the science, which helped me to have a baby," she explains. Through these AI-led lessons, she discovered her tracking app was miscalculating her ovulation window. After adjusting her plan based on ChatGPT's guidance, she became pregnant that same month. Now holding her one-month-old daughter, Hoskinson laughingly says, "she was conceived with ChatGPT."

This is part of a broader trend where the AI chatbot has woven itself into the fabric of daily life. While some use it for grocery lists, others are forming romantic relationships with it or being guided into spiritual delusions. Now, it's being used for one of humanity's most fundamental functions: creating life.

Navigating the Anxious Two-Week Wait

Anyone who has tried to get pregnant is familiar with the nerve-wracking "two-week wait"—the time between ovulation and a potential positive pregnancy test. During this period, 28-year-old Danielle Lacanaria turns to ChatGPT for support. She details her symptoms and asks the AI whether they signal an upcoming period or an early pregnancy.

"I look for interpretations of symptoms," Lacanaria says. She has taken the bot's advice seriously, altering her diet and supplement regimen based on its suggestions. Living in a rural part of Michigan, where it once took her six months to see an obstetrician, ChatGPT offers a level of accessibility that traditional healthcare cannot match. "I wouldn’t say ChatGPT is my first choice but is easier [given] how accessible it is," she notes.

The Question of AI Accuracy and Reliability

Despite its convenience, relying on ChatGPT for medical advice is fraught with risk. AI chatbots are known for being notoriously unreliable, and a 2023 study revealed that 52 percent of its answers contain some misinformation. They often appear to be telling users what they want to hear, which can be particularly misleading in a sensitive context like conception.

Lacanaria, who is still trying to conceive, admits the bot has given her incorrect information, forcing her to double-check its claims. Still, she finds value in the interaction. "There’s some friendly comfort there. And it’s brought me a lot of nuggets where I can go and chew on it or talk to my doctor or Google it myself."

Medical professionals share these concerns. Dr. Aparna Sridhar, a professor in clinical obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA, understands the appeal but warns against its use for tracking menstrual cycles. She strongly recommends using dedicated apps that are often designed with medical input. "Track your menstrual cycle and find an app which is known to work with that data," she advises.

Privacy Concerns in a Post-Roe World

Beyond accuracy, the issue of data privacy looms large. In a post-Roe America where reproductive rights are diminishing, sharing intimate details of one's menstrual cycle with a chatbot carries significant risk. The privacy of period-tracking apps has already been a major concern, and ChatGPT is no different.

The criminalization of pregnancy outcomes is a growing reality. In April, a Georgia woman was arrested after a miscarriage, and while the charges were dropped, the case highlights a dangerous trend. Reporting from The Marshall Project shows that at least seven states have investigated miscarriages and stillbirths within the criminal legal system.

Tom Subak, former Chief Strategy Officer at Planned Parenthood, states the risks are very real. "Could [the data] be used by a hostile prosecutor who is going on a fishing expedition for women who have had miscarriages? Absolutely," he warns. "You are trading some level of your anonymity and most personal health details for use of that app."

A Source of Comfort and Affirmation

Despite the risks, many women find irreplaceable emotional support in the AI. The bot's ability to retain context can feel both helpful and unsettling. Hoskinson was creeped out when she asked ChatGPT to generate a cartoon of her and it came back pregnant, a fact many of her relatives didn't even know. Yet, now as a new mother, she continues to ask it questions about her infant daughter's baby acne.

For others, the bot provides comfort and affirmations. "It asks if I need an affirmation for the month," says Megan Braiman, a 37-year-old from New York. "It tells me to believe in myself, that it’ll happen when it’s meant to happen... It’s not like it’s anything profound," she admits, but the reassurance helps.

Maura McCarthy, a woman in her forties from Los Angeles undergoing IVF, uses ChatGPT as a "spirit baby guide." She asks the AI to channel her future baby and provide guidance. "It tells me my spirit baby is closer than I think," she says. While she knows she's talking to a machine, the messages provide comfort as she navigates the difficult path of IVF. "I do it when I’m lying in bed at night and I can go to sleep after I get that message."