Consulting Dr. Google: Searching for Trustworthy Infertility Information

Characteristics of Trustworthy Healthcare Sites Trustworthy healthcare websites will have many (if not all) of the following characteristics. Identifying information. In addition to a company name, look for a prominent link to an "About Us" or "Contact Us" page. It should be easy to find a real address and phone number, as well as a form or email link for contact purposes. Be wary of P.O. boxes and email addresses that don't match the domain name. Purpose. Does the site have a clearly identifiable site purpose? And, if they are selling something, is this clearly stated on the home page? Content. There are several things you want to look for when evaluating the information presented on a site. Original content (not just copies, wikipedia, press releases) Articles are unique, not repetitive or redundant Articles include author(s), original date of publication and noted when updated/changed Writers and editors are experts, credentialed (MD, RN, PharmD, etc.), belong to professional associations, etc. Sources are used, cited and linked Multiple sources are cited throughout the site Medical research cited is peer-reviewed Look & Feel. A website's home page is your first impression of who they are and what they have to offer. A professional site can be likened to art, in that it is hard to define but you'll know it when you see it. Trustworthy sites will include: Clean, professional design Simple color choices, fonts easy to read Clear purpose and call to action Straightforward navigation Site search available Ownership. When in doubt, invoke the Jerry Maguire rule of site evaluation. If the ownership and editorial context of the site is not immediately available, remember this one mantra: show me the money. Ask yourself: Who is benefitting from this site? How are the owners benefitting? (Are they selling something of value? How do you know for sure? Are they gathering information and leads (to sell to you later)? Is there information on the site, or a promise of information? Are you required to provide an email address or other information to access articles? Does the site seem too good to be true? Does the site have a comprehensive privacy policy? Top-Level Domains. The part of a domain name that is at the very right-hand side (e.g., .com) is known as its top-level domain (TLD). These different domain name extensions help users remember website names and allow a broader set of domain names to be issued. The oldest and most well-established name extensions are: .com, .gov, .edu, .org, .net and .mil Countries other than the U.S. each have their own country TLD (e.g., .de, .uk, .ca) There are many additional top-level domains that are active (including .info, .mobi and .tv), and more will continue to be released. As a general rule, sites that have any of the gold standard TLDs are going to be more well-established than those on newer TLDs. However the TLD extension is only one facet of a website that determines its level of trustworthiness and can't stand on its own as a measure of reputation. For a very real (and surprising) example, to get the latest news from the White House and learn what President Obama is up to, make sure to visit whitehouse.gov. There is another site named "whitehouse"; however, its top-level domain is .com rather than .gov. In this case, the distinction is overwhelmingly important. Whereas the .gov site takes you to President Obama's White House, the .com site takes you to a site that contains pornography. Top-level domain extensions matter, but they're only one piece of the puzzle and they're not always used consistently!

Whenever possible, stay focused on your search goals as you move from site to site. This isn't as easy as it sounds; it is easy to get started on a search and then get lost down various rabbit holes as you bounce from article to article and site to site. While some searches are incredibly straightforward (where is the closest Starbucks? When was the first light bulb invented?), searches for medical information such as infertility, family building and IVF are multidimensional. Infertility is personal. Infertility is emotional. Infertility is loaded with expectations. Infertility is complex. Infertility affects every aspect of a person's life. And unless you've got your life savings riding on the answer to the light bulb question, infertility is way more important and requires more thoughtful searching.

At the end of the day, the information that you find online can't replace the advice and expertise of your doctor or clinic. Use the information you find as a jumping-off point and a portal to a more in-depth understanding of your diagnosis and treatment options. Use it to empower yourself and advocate for your own healthcare needs. And take it to your doctor, have them review it with you, and work with your doctor to get the best possible care you can.