Why Flo App Research Is Driving Long-Term Advances in Women’s Health

When most people first download the Flo App, they are looking for a convenient way to track their periods or fertility window. What distinguishes Flo is that it also conducts its own medical research studies and partners with doctors at research institutions to publish new research that is otherwise not being funded. These peer-reviewed studies are advancing understanding of women’s health through rigorous scientific methods.

Moving Beyond Snapshots to Long-Term Patterns 

Women’s health research has historically been underfunded, with traditional medicine often overlooking the importance of hormonal health. While cross-sectional studies that capture snapshots in time provide valuable insights, the field has lacked sufficient investment to build a comprehensive understanding of women’s health patterns. This funding gap has limited researchers’ ability to conduct both the quick-turnaround studies needed for immediate insights and the large-scale longitudinal research required to identify slow-moving patterns or rare but significant correlations.

Flo addresses these challenges by conducting formal research studies with participants who consent to contribute to scientific knowledge. These studies can leverage longitudinal data from willing participants, providing insights into patterns that develop over time. All research follows strict ethical protocols, with participants providing informed consent for their de-identified data to be used in research.

Landmark Findings Emerging from Flo Research 

Recent publications from Flo’s team of over 20 scientists have contributed to the scientific understanding of women’s health. These are not passive advisors—the team is actively involved in study design, data analysis, and publication. For instance, a 2024 study in Scientific Reports analyzed cycle patterns across the reproductive lifespan, showing that cycles get shorter until age 45, then become longer and more variable as women transition toward menopause (Chronicling menstrual cycle patterns across the reproductive lifespan with real-world data). Another 2024 study in JMIR mHealth and uHealth demonstrated that using the Flo app for three months improved health literacy, menstrual health awareness, and wellbeing in a randomized controlled trial (Efficacy of the Flo app in improving health literacy, menstrual and general health, and wellbeing in women: a pilot randomized controlled trial). These studies, conducted with consenting participants and published in peer-reviewed journals, add to the evidence base that healthcare providers can reference.

Ensuring Scientific Rigor and Privacy 

Flo’s approach to research emphasizes both scientific validity and participant protection. Backed by over 20 in-house scientists and scientific board members, Flo has built one of the most robust internal research programs of any women’s health app:

Research Partnerships: Flo’s science team collaborates with universities and research institutions to conduct studies, ensuring academic rigor and expertise. With over 22 million research participants across their various studies, Flo has built one of the largest research programs in women’s health.

Peer Review: All research undergoes rigorous peer review by independent experts before publication in scientific journals.

Ethical Approval: Studies receive appropriate ethical approval from institutional review boards before commencing.

Privacy Protocols: Advanced de-identification techniques protect participant privacy, with the privacy team ensuring compliance with international data protection standards.

Open Access: Research findings are published in open-access journals, making them freely available to the global scientific community.

Closing the Loop: From Research to Real-Life Guidance 

Flo’s educational content is developed by medical professionals and draws from the broader scientific literature – not just Flo’s own research. This ensures users receive comprehensive, evidence-based health information.

Healthcare providers can access Flo’s published research through scientific journals, adding to the evidence base they use to inform patient care. This contributes to the growing body of knowledge about women’s health.

A Blueprint for the Future of Digital Health 

Flo’s model demonstrates how digital health platforms can meaningfully contribute to medical science while maintaining user trust. Through formal research with consenting participants, rigorous privacy protections, and peer-reviewed publications, Flo shows how technology companies can advance healthcare responsibly.

The growing body of studies from Flo and similar platforms points to a future where digital tools help answer long-standing questions in women’s health. With a dedicated medical and science team driving both educational content and original research, Flo is redefining what it means to be a science-first health tech company.

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