The Pre-Pregnancy Guide exists because there's a gap between what researchers know about prepregnancy (preconception) health and what most people hear from their doctors. (A 2018 Lancet series called it "an underutilised opportunity" to improve lifelong health.) We're trying to bridge that gap, carefully and honestly.
This page explains how we approach the research, what standards we hold ourselves to, and what you should (and shouldn't) expect from our content.
What is The Pre-Pregnancy Guide?
We are researchers and science translators. Our job is to dig into peer-reviewed literature on prepregnancy health, understand what it actually shows (and doesn't show), and translate it into actionable information for people who want to make informed decisions.
We prioritize:
- Peer-reviewed research over anecdotes and trends
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses when available
- Biological plausibility and mechanistic understanding
- Acknowledging uncertainty when evidence is limited
- Practical applicability for real people
What is this site NOT?
We are not medical providers. Nothing on this site constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We provide educational information based on published research. Your healthcare provider knows your specific situation; we don't.
We are not wellness influencers. We don't promote miracle cures, shame people into perfection, or sell fear. The goal is informed decision-making, not anxiety.
We are not dogmatic. Science evolves. We'll update our recommendations as evidence changes, and we'll acknowledge when we've been wrong.
The bottom line: We synthesize research. Your healthcare provider provides medical care. These are complementary, not interchangeable.
What principles guide our work?
1. Evidence Over Authority
We don't recommend something because an expert said so or because it's popular. We look at what the research actually shows. When authorities disagree with the evidence, we explain both perspectives.
2. Acknowledge Uncertainty
Much of preconception research is observational. Correlation isn't causation. Animal studies don't always translate to humans. We tell you when evidence is strong, when it's suggestive, and when it's speculative.
3. Practical Over Perfect
We focus on interventions that are actionable, sustainable, and proportionate to their evidence base. We won't tell you to do 47 things perfectly. We'll tell you what actually moves the needle.
4. No Fear-Mongering
Preconception health matters, but imperfect preparation doesn't doom your pregnancy. We present information to empower, not to create anxiety. If something sounds scary without context, we provide the context.
5. Both Partners
We include male preconception health because the research supports it, not to be contrarian or trendy. If evidence shows paternal factors matter, we cover them.
6. Update and Correct
When new research changes our understanding, we update our content. When we make mistakes, we correct them publicly. Science isn't about being right the first time; it's about getting closer to truth over time.
How do we evaluate research?
Not all studies are created equal. We weight evidence according to a hierarchy:
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: Highest quality when well-conducted
- Randomized controlled trials (RCTs): Gold standard for intervention research
- Prospective cohort studies: Good for observational questions
- Case-control and cross-sectional studies: Useful but more prone to bias
- Animal studies: Informative for mechanisms, but limited applicability to humans
- Expert opinion and mechanistic reasoning: Weakest evidence but sometimes all we have
What We Look For
- Sample size: Larger studies are generally more reliable
- Replication: Has the finding been confirmed in multiple studies?
- Effect size: Is the difference meaningful, not just statistically significant?
- Confounding: Did the study control for other variables?
- Publication bias: Are negative results being published too?
- Conflicts of interest: Who funded the research?
How We Handle Uncertainty
When evidence is mixed or limited, we:
- Say so explicitly
- Explain what we do and don't know
- Consider biological plausibility
- Weigh potential benefits against risks and costs
- Make clear when recommendations are "probably helpful" vs "strongly supported"
What do we claim, and what don't we?
We DO claim:
- Prepregnancy health matters for both partners
- Certain nutrients, lifestyle factors, and metabolic markers influence fertility and pregnancy outcomes
- The conventional "take prenatals and relax" advice is incomplete
- Evidence-based preparation can improve your odds at the margins
We DON'T claim:
- Following our recommendations guarantees a healthy pregnancy
- Imperfect preparation causes poor outcomes
- This information replaces medical care
- We have all the answers
- Specific outcomes from specific interventions
Why isn't this medical advice?
Medical advice requires:
- Knowledge of your specific health history
- Ability to examine you and run tests
- Professional training and licensure
- Accountability through malpractice standards
- Ongoing relationship and follow-up
We can provide none of these. What we provide is educational information based on research, which you can use to have better conversations with your healthcare provider and make more informed personal decisions.
Important: If you have a medical condition, are taking medications, or have specific concerns about your fertility or pregnancy, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Don't rely on internet resources (including us) for medical decisions.
How is this different from wellness influencers?
The wellness space is full of:
- Unsubstantiated claims presented as fact
- Fear-based marketing
- Cherry-picked studies that support a predetermined narrative
- Products promoted for profit rather than efficacy
- Perfectionism that creates anxiety rather than empowerment
We reject all of this. Our goal is to give you accurate information, clearly communicated, so you can make your own informed choices. We'd rather tell you "the evidence isn't strong enough to recommend this" than oversell something for engagement or sales.
Who created this?
The Pre-Pregnancy Guide was created by someone who went looking for comprehensive, evidence-based prepregnancy information and couldn't find it. The journey from curious person to researcher was driven by genuine frustration with the gap between science and accessible guidance.
Reviewed by Healthcare Professionals
All content is reviewed for accuracy by licensed healthcare professionals before publication. Our clinical reviewer ensures claims are evidence-based and flags areas where research is still emerging. This is educational content, not medical advice—but it's content that's been vetted.
How can I provide feedback?
If you find an error in our content, have questions about our sources, or want to suggest research we should consider, we want to hear from you. Accuracy matters more to us than being right. If we're wrong about something, we want to know.
Contact: connect@theprepregnancyguide.com
In Short
The Pre-Pregnancy Guide synthesizes peer-reviewed research on prepregnancy (preconception) health and translates it into accessible information. We prioritize evidence over authority, acknowledge uncertainty, focus on practical over perfect, and include both partners based on what research shows. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions and have better conversations with your healthcare provider, not to replace professional medical care.
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