Getting pregnant is harder than most women realize, but that doesn’t mean that if it takes time, there is something wrong that must be treated or dealt with. Furthermore, conception is a serendipitous process that isn’t fully under our control, although you wouldn’t know that from the myriad of products available. In the US, fertility treatment is a big business.
This story describes one type of supplement for fertility support that includes a wide variety of ingredients. The story quotes many of the claims made on the company’s website but injects some amount of healthy skepticism.
This relatively short story includes valuable information, such as the availability and cost of the supplements. It provides details on one study evaluating the supplement but could have commented on whether these results have been validated by other studies. It quantifies the results of that one study but is careful not to make claims that the supplements improve fertility by X or Y%, which is appropriate given how small the study was.
The story quotes more than one expert, one who works for the company and one who does not. This independent source is crucial in this story and provides much-needed perspective.
The story could have been improved by describing alternative options, other than to "see a doctor". For example, monitoring ovulation, quitting smoking and drinking, maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress and depression may help. Furthermore, the story does not mention any harms of the supplement, known or unknown. Even if the harms are not known, the story should have highlighted that. Side effects of chasteberry, an active ingredient in the supplements, can include nausea, headaches, GI disturbances, and menstrual cycle irregularities.
The story clearly states the cost of the supplements.
The story quantifies the results of the one small study but is careful not to make claims that the supplements improve fertility by X or Y%
The story does not mention any harms of the supplement, known or unknown. Even if the harms are not known, the story should have highlighted that. Side effects of chasteberry can include nausea, headaches, GI disturbances, and menstrual cycle irregularities.
The story provides details on one study using the supplement. The story could have commented on whether these results have been validated by other studies.
The story rightly points out that conception is a "mysterious business" in that it is not fully understood nor do we have control over it. Most women take a while to get pregnant, even up to a year is not considered abnormal. However, the story could do women who are worried about this more of a service by reminding them that variation in time to conceive is normal and they should not run out and get supplements right away.
The story quotes more than one expert, one who was involved with the study and one who was not. The independent source is crucial in this story.
The story does not describe alternative options, other than to "see a doctor". For example, monitoring ovulation, quitting smoking and drinking, maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress and depression may help.
The story clearly states that the supplements are available on the company website, though it isn’t clear whether they are available elsewhere.
Clearly supplements for fertility are not a new idea.
The fact that an independent source has a key voice in the story shows that it did not rely solely on a news release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Monday at #ADA2021, an infectious disease epidemiologist, a journalist, and a researcher shared perspectives on communication of risk in the era of COVID-19: http://ow.ly/ROfR30rMeE7 @AstleyCM @garyschwitzer @berthahidalgo @ADA_DiabetesPro
Shoutouts to @susan_bewley @drkevinknopf @MichaelBaum11 in this call for more than fawning coverage from press releases for these kinds of stories.
Also, linked history inside goes back 5 years just on Grail apparently trying to become Holy Grail. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1408849696416841731
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