When it comes to getting medical information, the Internet can be a wonderful thing. If you have a tickle in your throat or a sore knee, all you need to do is pick up your phone and type in a few words to get more information. “Doctor Google” has become a first line of inquiry when it comes to any number of health conditions. But the downside is the large amount of misinformation on the Internet, and patients may not be able to figure out which sources are credible, and which are not. For people dealing with fertility issues, or who have questions about fertility, it is especially important to find the right information to make informed decisions. Here is a concise list of credible, reliable sources which can all be considered trustworthy:
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
ASRM was founded in 1944 and has become the largest umbrella organization for medical practitioners working in the fertility field. The organization also runs a website to provide information to the public called Reproductive Facts.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The primary agency responsible for biomedical and public health research in the United States, the NIH dates to August 1887 and is ranked 2nd behind Harvard University in largest contributors to medical journals between 2015 to 2018. NIH is the largest biomedical research institution in the world. Fertility information can be found at its Fertility and Infertility Branch (FIB).
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The CDC is the official national public health agency of the United States federal government, under the Department of Health and Human Services since 1946. Its primary mission is to combat illness and improve overall public health and it sponsors educational activities aimed at US citizens. The CDC is also concerned with infertility and has appropriate resources available online.
A nonprofit American academic medical center, the Mayo Clinic is focused on health care, education, and research. Ranked number one on the US News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Honor Roll for six consecutive years, the Mayo Clinic focuses on treating difficult cases and is home to many of the most prestigious residency education programs in the United States and is a reliable source of fertility research and information.
The International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO)
FIGO was founded in 1954 in Geneva, Switzerland as a worldwide non-governmental organization and today represents obstetricians and gynecologists in over 100 territories. Its mission is to ‘promote the well-being of women and to raise the standard of practice in obstetrics and gynecology,” and its members are trusted experts in the field of fertility care.
Your own best resource
This is by no means a comprehensive list of credible medical sources online. There are many more, but these are a good place to start looking for accurate information related to fertility and other medical issues. The best source of information is usually your own doctor, who will be able to answer any questions on a personal level and provide information that meets your specific needs.