June is Men’s Health Month, and if there’s one thing I’ve noticed in all the health-related emails that proliferate my inbox daily, it’s that they’re largely targeted toward women’s health. It made me wonder if there’s more support for men about staying healthy, too.

I was sifting through different AI health tools when I found Docus, which stood out to me because while it was a health platform, it specifically supports men and their health concerns — think hormone levels, cardiovascular health and supplement recommendations.

I dove into it to explore how men can use artificial intelligence for support on their health journey.

What is Docus, and how does it use AI?

Docus is an AI-powered health platform launched in 2021 in response to co-founders Robert Sargsyan and Gevorg Nazaryan’s personal experience with a friend diagnosed with a disease. They sought out a second opinion to diagnose the illness and provide care. This inspired them to create Docus as a way to remove the limitations that geography and language — both spoken and cultural — can create when connecting people with medical expertise.

Docus is available on a free plan upwards of $15/month, and aims to democratize health information so people understand and manage their unique health needs with personalized AI-powered insights.

This includes interpreting your lab tests and bloodwork — typically done annually and not always covered by insurance — and offering tailored supplement recommendations, as well as exercise plan suggestions. A detailed report explains its relation to your goals, recommended dosage amount and any relevant safety notes. While no subscription is required to explore the detailed report, purchasing the supplement kits starts at $40/month.

Docus also supports men’s wellness by providing bloodwork insights for male-specific biomarkers you input into the system (examples include: low testosterone, hair loss and male fertility issues) and space to describe concerns that AI can evaluate for needing attention while monitoring metrics and providing suggestions.

Just remember to speak to your own doctor about any recommendations an AI tool makes before taking them — something Docus itself agrees with, as its insights can be validated by 350 connected specialists in both the US and Europe.

How to use Docus AI to support men’s health

Docus / Screenshot by CNET

This is how to use Docus AI to set up and tailor your account specifically in support of men’s health:

Visit Docus AI and create a free account with your email. Provide details about your age, lifestyle, health history and health goals to create a health profile — like muscle mass, testosterone, stress and energy levels. Start a chat with the Docus AI health assistant where you can ask questions, describe your symptoms and say what you’re worried about or want perspective on or a second opinion. If you have lab test reports (like testosterone, cholesterol or glucose), you can upload them directly. Docus does not sell your data, and follows HIPAA and GDPR compliances, as well as industry-standard seals that require security benchmarks. Yet, it’s important to know that if you consent to a second opinion, naturally your information will be shared with the doctor providing medical advice. Docus’ algorithm will analyze these and highlight abnormalities, patterns from repeated labs (which require a doctor’s lab order) or other health risks. From here, Docus’ algorithm will generate a health report with guidance or suggestions for follow-up care. You can also book a consultation with a clinician in the US or Europe to review results and answer questions about men’s health.

Docus lets you track health metrics over time, see patterns and help make lifestyle tweaks to aid prevention or ease symptoms.

Should you use Docus AI?

An exercise plan generated by Docus. Docus / Screenshot by CNET

Docus is designed for men who want to take a more proactive, personalized approach to their health — whether they’re worried about their testosterone levels, stress, energy or growing health risks as they age.

The platform offers a blend of data from medical research and clinical guidelines, expert medical guidance (if you request a second opinion) and convenient digital tools to help men track their health over time, identify abnormalities or patterns and make lifestyle tweaks before small issues become big problems.

It’s especially helpful for those who appreciate having a clear snapshot of their health without needing to wait for a doctor’s appointment or give an excuse for why to avoid going to one. According to a recent study, over 60% of men said they’d go to a doctor if it was convenient for them. So in this case, maybe Docus is a step in that direction — a second opinion from a clinician alongside algorithm-informed guidance, without leaving your home.

That said, Docus might not be for everyone. Some people prefer face-to-face care, or may find navigating a health platform confusing or impersonal. Those with complex health issues or ongoing health crises would be better served by a clinician’s direct oversight. And everyone using it should double check with their doctor before following any recommendations suggested by AI.

While I’m not a man, I believe that care tailored to men’s health is beneficial for their partners and families. Providing men with tools, information and support to take an active role in their own health can help them feel that their health care is a way to help make sustainable lifestyle choices and seek help when they need it.