Women’s Health Online: What Can You Trust?
A confusing lab result. A question about birth control. A new symptom. For many of us, the first place we turn for an answer isn’t a doctor – it’s a search bar. Why?
Endometriosis, menopause care, chronic pelvic pain, and several other women’s health issues remain minimized in the gender pain gap. When healthcare professionals constantly underdiagnose and inadequately address these issues, the next best option seems to be social media or a search engine where you can resonate with lived experiences, feel heard, and learn about how to approach your conditions [1].
With this information readily available, it is significantly easier for women to begin to address their health. But not all health information online is accurate, evidence-based, or relevant, so how should you determine which advice deserves your trust?
Not All Health Information is Created Equal
When reading health information online, whether it be on Reddit, Instagram, or even Google summaries, it is important to keep in mind that not every personal experience is generalizable and not every “fact” comes from accredited health professionals.
Individual health experiences can vary widely; one person’s story does not serve as evidence that a treatment or solution will work for others. While reading stories about others’experiences is a great way to open your mind to possible new solutions, remember that what works for someone else may not be the best option for you.
It is also essential to watch out for people who take advantage of the lack of information surrounding women’s health issues to promote or sell their products. If you cannot find someone’s credentials, they describe a health problem and immediately advertise a product as the ultimate solution, or make claims without any reliable evidence, these can be red flags that the information may not be trustworthy [2].
What to Look Out For:
Websites | Learn more about the source: Government agencies, hospitals, and reputable health organizations generally share verifiable health information [3]. Taking a moment to look up a source and learn about it can be abundantly helpful in deciding whether medical information is legitimate [4]. Pay attention to the language: Is the title of the article trying to evoke a strong emotional response? Exaggerated language is often a sign that the article isn’t fact-based [3,4]. Look for verification: Check more well-known sources (such as the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, or the American Cancer Society) that may be making the same claim to fact-check. Comparing information across multiple reliable sources can help you determine whether a claim is supported by evidence [4]. |
Social Media | Think about credibility: Is the information coming from an influencer or medical expert? Make sure that they have the credibility to make claims about the specific issue at hand [3]. Think skeptically: Be cautious of content that gives extreme advice, makes dramatic claims, or implicitly creates fear [3]. Look beyond the post: Search for original studies or another reputable source that covers the same information instead of relying on the post alone [4]. |
Use the Internet as a Starting Point, Not the Final Answer
Online health information can be an incredibly useful tool. It can help you learn about symptoms, discover questions to ask, and find experiences that make you feel less alone. But it is important to remember that information found online cannot account for everything that makes your health unique.
Your age, medical history, symptoms, medications, risk factors, and many other contributors can impact what information is relevant to you [2]. Something that is accurate for one person may not apply to another. So, next time you find a health claim online, take a moment to ask yourself: Who is providing this information? What evidence supports it? And does it actually apply to me?
Improving your online health literacy does not mean ignoring the internet. It means becoming a more informed user of it, and knowing what to do with what you find online.
The Bigger Picture
Learning how to make responsible decisions from online health information is important, but so is addressing the reasons people seek that information in the first place. Women should not have to choose between searching the internet and being heard by their healthcare providers. Both accessible, evidence-based information and supportive, equitable healthcare are necessary for women to make informed decisions about their health.
References
Scrolling for Answers: Social Media, Women’s Health, and Clinical Decision-Making - American Medical Women’s Association [Internet]. [cited 2026 Sep 13]. Available from: https://amwa-doc.org/scrolling-for-answers-social-media-womens-health-and-clinical-decision-making/
Trusted Health Information Online | Women’s Health Resources — Partners in Women’s Health | Denver [Internet]. [cited 2026 Sep 13]. Available from: https://www.piwhdenver.com/trusted-womens-health-resources
Evaluating Health Information – Center for Young Women’s Health [Internet]. [cited 2026 Sep 13]. Available from: https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/evaluating-health-information/
The SIFT Method - Evaluating Resources and Misinformation - Library Guides at UChicago [Internet]. [cited 2026 Sep 13]. Available from: https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/c.php?g=1241077&p=9082322
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