Editorial standards
The rules we follow when writing about health, and the things we will not do.
Health writing can mislead without anyone meaning it to. A rounded number, an outdated guideline or a confident tone can all do harm. These standards describe how this guide tries to avoid that, so you can judge how far to rely on any page.
How we source
Every page lists its sources at the foot. We prefer public health agencies, professional societies, patient organisations with published standards and peer-reviewed reviews. A figure goes into a page only if we have opened the source and found it there. When we cannot confirm a number, we leave it out or describe the idea without it.
We try not to lean on one country. Screening ages, thresholds, medicine approvals and coverage differ between countries and between guidelines, and we say so where it matters.
How we handle medical content
We explain what tests and conditions are, why they matter and what their general limits are. We do not tell readers to have, skip, start or stop anything, we do not interpret individual results, and we do not recommend treatments. When a page touches a decision that belongs to a patient and their doctor, it says so. What we call typical or common is never a prediction for your own case.
How we write
We use plain words and short paragraphs, and we define a technical term when it first appears. We state exceptions instead of hiding them, and we avoid fear, urgency and promotional language. The pages carry no advertising banners and no product recommendations.
Updates and corrections
Each page shows when it was last updated. We add and revise pages over time, and we recheck a page when a major source changes its guidance. If you find an error, an out-of-date statement or a broken link, tell us through the contact form. We correct factual errors in the page itself and change the date, and we do not leave a known mistake in place.
Independence
This guide is independent of any clinic, health system, hospital, laboratory or manufacturer. Naming a test, a medicine class or an organisation describes it and does not endorse it. Read more on the about page, and see how bone and hormone topics connect in the osteoporosis guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is a doctor reviewing these pages?
We do not claim medical review. Pages are written from named public sources and checked against them. The sources are listed so that you or your own clinician can verify any statement.
Can you tell me what my results mean?
No. Only the clinicians who have your results and your history can do that. The guides here explain the vocabulary, so that you can ask better questions of them.
How do I report a mistake or suggest a source?
Use the contact form and include the page address and, if you can, the public source that disagrees with us. We read every message that arrives.
The short version
Sources are named and opened, figures are verified or left out, and the guide stays out of personal medical advice. When something is wrong, it is corrected where you will see it.