Our Editorial Standards
At FertileStart, we take our responsibility to provide accurate health information seriously. As a fertility and reproductive health resource, our content falls under what Google calls "Your Money or Your Life" (YMYL) topics—meaning the information we publish can directly impact our readers' health decisions and wellbeing.
This policy outlines how we create, review, and maintain content to ensure it meets the highest standards of accuracy and trustworthiness.
Content Creation Process
Research Standards
Every article begins with a thorough review of current medical literature. We prioritize information from peer-reviewed journals, major medical organizations (ASRM, ACOG, WHO, CDC), and established clinical guidelines. When research is limited or conflicting, we say so clearly.
Evidence Hierarchy
We evaluate evidence quality using standard medical evidence hierarchy: systematic reviews and meta-analyses carry the most weight, followed by randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and expert consensus. We clearly distinguish between established medical facts and emerging research.
Source Citation
All medical claims are supported by citations to their original sources. We link to studies, guidelines, and data sources so readers can verify information independently. When we reference statistics, we include the source, date, and relevant context.
Affiliate Content & Commercial Relationships
Some pages on FertileStart contain affiliate links to products we recommend. Our policy on these relationships is straightforward:
- Product recommendations are made based on evidence, quality, and reader usefulness—never based on commission rates
- All affiliate relationships are clearly disclosed on every page that contains affiliate links
- We do not accept payment for favorable reviews or editorial coverage
- Our editorial team and our affiliate partnerships are managed independently
Corrections Policy
Medical research evolves. When new evidence changes our understanding, we update our content promptly. Significant corrections are noted at the top of the article with the date of the change. If you spot an error, please email editorial@fertilestart.com.
Content Freshness
We review all medical content at least annually to ensure it reflects current guidelines and research. Each page displays the date it was last reviewed. Time-sensitive content (such as product recommendations or cost estimates) is reviewed more frequently.
Ownership Transparency
FertileStart is part of a network of fertility websites that includes HowToHaveABaby.com, LifeFertile.com, and ConceiveGuide.com. All sites are operated under common ownership and share editorial standards. We believe transparent disclosure of our site relationships is essential to reader trust.
This editorial policy was last updated on January 18, 2026.