What “Doctor Approved” Really Means in Health Apps

Many health apps use the words “doctor approved”. It sounds safe. It sounds trusted. But the truth is that this phrase can mean many different things, and it is not always clear what level of care sits behind it. Women deserve to know what this label really means, so they can choose apps with confidence.

1. “Doctor approved” can mean almost anything

Some apps say a “doctor” helped, but they do not explain who the doctor is, what training they have, or what they did.
A doctor may have:

• only reviewed one small part of the app

• given a quick comment

• helped in the early idea stage

• or not been involved in medical decisions at all

Without detail, the phrase does not tell you much.

2. Not all “doctors” work in women’s health

A “doctor” could be:

• a dentist

• a doctor of physics or maths

• a doctor who has never treated women’s health issues

• or a doctor with no training in periods, fertility, pregnancy, or hormones

Many doctors are skilled, but not all are experts in women’s health. The word “doctor” alone does not guarantee clinical safety.

3. Some apps use the label for marketing, not safety

In some cases, “doctor approved” is used to make the app seem trustworthy.
But without facts or names, this label does not tell you what was checked, how it was checked, or how often.

Women deserve better than a slogan.

4. What real medical involvement looks like

A safe and strong app will tell you:

• the names of the medical team

• their training

• their role

• what they check inside the app

• how often the medical work is updated

Clear information builds trust.
If an app cannot tell you these things, you cannot know how safe it is.

5. How SheRanked checks medical claims

At SheRanked, we look for clear facts.
We check if an app:

• names their medical team

• explains what those experts do

• shows real clinical work

• keeps medical content up to date

• avoids big claims that are not backed by science

Apps do not lose points for not having a medical team, but they do lose points for unclear or confusing claims.

We believe women should not have to guess.

6. Why this matters

Women use these apps to track periods, fertility, symptoms, and mood.
This is personal health information.
Clear medical details help women feel safe and informed.

When labels are vague, women are left to figure things out on their own.

Final Thoughts

“Doctor approved” can mean many different things.
What matters most is clear, simple information about the medical team and what they do.

This is why SheRanked checks every app for real transparency.
Women deserve easy answers and tools they can trust.

Written By Dr Christina Davies - Founder, SheRanked