Comfort and communication
How to Evaluate Sexual-Wellness Advice Online
A confident caption is not the same as reliable health information. Before acting on sexual-wellness advice, find who wrote it, what evidence supports it and whether it applies to your situation.
Identify the source and purpose
MedlinePlus recommends checking who runs and funds a site, its purpose, the author's qualifications, sources and update dates. A business may publish useful information while also having a commercial interest.
Dear Tingle is a retailer. Our articles should link factual health claims to appropriate sources and should not be mistaken for an individual clinical assessment.
Trace the exact claim
If a post says a device “treats” a condition, open the cited source and look for that exact device, population and outcome. A general discussion of sexual health does not prove a product-specific result. A study about one situation should not silently become advice for everyone.
Notice what is missing
A claim without limitations, a date or an identifiable source needs more checking. Testimonials and dramatic before-and-after stories do not establish that the same outcome will happen to you.
Keep personal decisions personal
MedlinePlus advises discussing health information with a healthcare provider before relying on it for decisions affecting your health. This is particularly relevant when symptoms, treatment or medication are involved.
You can use online information to prepare better questions without accepting every conclusion. Our appointment guide helps turn those questions into a clear conversation. No article should make buying a product feel like the only route to a health answer.
General information from Dear Tingle, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.