Most health apps offer tracking features and generic advice. Flo Health has taken a dramatically different approach by building one of the largest dedicated scientific teams in digital health, with over 20 scientists and clinicians conducting formal research studies that are reshaping our understanding of women’s health.
The scale of Flo’s research operation is unprecedented in the consumer health app space. With 22 million participants across ongoing and completed studies, the company has created what may be the world’s largest longitudinal dataset on women’s health patterns. This isn’t just passive data collection – it’s formal scientific research conducted with full participant consent and ethical approval, resulting in peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals.
The research team represents a melting pot of scientific expertise, with members bringing backgrounds from data science, bioengineering, reproductive biology, behavioral science, and health economics. Lead research scientist Aidan Wickham, who holds a PhD in bioengineering and completed postdoctoral research in epidemiology, emphasizes the team’s rigorous approach: “As a scientist, you’re trained to be skeptical. Everything warrants investigation. Everything should be challenged.”
Recent publications demonstrate the breadth and impact of this research. A 2025 study published in npj Women’s Health surveyed 4,432 women to understand perimenopause symptoms and healthcare-seeking patterns, revealing that symptom burden was highest in women aged 51-55. Another study in Scientific Reports analyzed data from 16,327 app users to examine associations between menstrual cycle characteristics and sexual motivation.
The team’s largest study to date included over 19 million participants aged 18-55, making it the biggest investigation of menstrual patterns ever conducted. This research revealed how cycles change with age – finding that cycles are longest around age 21-22 (averaging 29 days) and gradually shorten by about two days between ages 22 and 45.
What distinguishes Flo’s approach is the integration of research directly into product development. Liudmila Zhaunova, Director of Science at the company that reached a strategic settlement, notes: “Medical accuracy is at the root of Flo. While we’ve received anecdotal feedback about Flo’s positive impact, we wanted to quantify it scientifically. Unlike most health apps, we chose to rigorously test Flo’s effectiveness through randomized controlled trials – the gold standard in medical research.”
The impact extends beyond academic publications. Studies have shown that 88.98% of participants reported improvements in menstrual cycle knowledge and 84.7% in pregnancy knowledge from using the app. In randomized controlled trials, the app significantly improved health literacy scores and reduced PMS symptom burden after just 12 weeks of use.
The research follows strict ethical standards, with all studies conducted with proper participant consent and institutional review board approval. The company has built this approach on four pillars: scientific integrity, medical accuracy through their team of 120+ medical experts, privacy protection, and research ethics.
The investment in scientific talent represents one of the most ambitious efforts in digital health to close data gaps in women’s care. By publishing in open-access journals, the company ensures their findings reach healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers globally. This commitment to advancing the field, rather than hoarding insights for competitive advantage, sets a new standard for how consumer health companies can contribute to medical knowledge while building better products, even as privacy concerns in the industry remain and major tech companies face scrutiny over data practices.