Women Deserve Data, Not Dogma
In just five words, this captures everything that evidence-based medicine should stand for - and everything that's gone wrong in how health information reaches women today.
Women Deserve Data, Not Dogma.
In just five words, it captures everything that evidence-based medicine should stand for - and everything that's gone wrong in how health information reaches women today.
From fertility influencers hawking unproven supplements to home birth advocates dismissing hospital safety data as "fear-based," women are drowning in confident-sounding advice that prioritizes ideology over evidence. The wellness industry has learned that empowerment language sells, and that "trusting your body" sounds better than trusting data. But feelings aren't facts, and validation isn't the same as information. Below are the facts - not fads - that every woman deserves to hear about her reproductive health.
Age is the single most important factor in female fertility - no supplement, diet, or “detox” changes ovarian reserve
Most couples with normal fertility take up to 12 months to conceive; this is biology, not a problem to solve
Ovulation predictor kits work, but “fertility crystals,” cycle-syncing diets, and womb massages do not
Male factor contributes to ~50% of infertility - it’s not just a woman’s issue to fix
The vast majority of fertility supplements have no rigorous evidence supporting their claims
Morning sickness is common and rarely harms the baby; safe, effective medications exist
“Eating for two” means about 300 extra calories in the third trimester - not doubling intake
Exercise during uncomplicated pregnancy is safe and beneficial, not dangerous
Due dates are estimates; only 5% of babies arrive on theirs
Ultrasounds and fetal monitoring have extensive safety data; refusing them doesn’t make birth more “natural”
Breastfeeding difficulties are common and not a moral failing; fed is genuinely best
Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 women and is a medical condition, not weakness
“Bouncing back” is a cultural pressure, not a health goal
Postpartum bleeding for 4-6 weeks is normal; soaking a pad hourly is not
Sleep deprivation has real health consequences - accepting help isn’t optional
Hormone therapy is safe for most women under 60 and effectively treats symptoms
Menopause is not a disease, but its symptoms deserve treatment
“Bioidentical” compounded hormones are not safer than FDA-approved options
Hot flashes, brain fog, and mood changes are real physiological events, not “all in your head”
Vaginal estrogen is safe, effective, and vastly underused for genitourinary symptoms
In the US, planned home births have 2-3x higher neonatal mortality than hospital births - “rare” events still kill babies
“Low risk” can become high risk in minutes; hemorrhage and cord prolapse don’t wait for transfer
Your body was “designed” for birth the same way it was “designed” to sometimes die from it
A CPM (Certified Professional Midwife) credential requires a fraction of the training of a CNM or physician
Wanting a calm, supportive birth experience is valid; risking your baby’s life to achieve it is not informed consent
INDICATED MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS
Induction for medical indications (preeclampsia, diabetes, postdates) saves lives - it’s not “interfering with nature”
Cesarean delivery is a life-saving operation, not a failure or a birth “outcome” to be ashamed of
Continuous fetal monitoring in high-risk labor exists because babies die without it
Epidurals do not increase cesarean rates and do not harm babies
Declining medically indicated interventions based on a “birth plan” puts ideology above your baby’s safety