Sources Policy

1. Purpose and scope

This policy explains how Inside Embryo selects and presents evidence for assisted reproduction, fertility care, reproductive biology, embryology, IVF laboratory science, quality, regulation and ethics.

The depth of sourcing is proportionate to the content. A short definition of an established term may need fewer citations than a clinical-outcome comparison, laboratory recommendation, legal statement or emerging technology review.

2. Core source principles

• Relevance: the source must directly support the claim being made.
• Authority: author expertise, publisher, review process and institutional responsibility are considered.
• Currency: newer guidance is preferred when the field changes, without discarding foundational evidence merely because it is older.
• Method quality: study design, sample, bias, outcome definition and statistical limitations matter.
• Traceability: readers should be able to identify or locate the source.
• Proportionality: stronger or more consequential claims require stronger evidence and clearer limitations.
• Independence: promotional material is not treated as independent proof of efficacy or superiority.

3. Preferred source hierarchy

No rigid hierarchy fits every question. A manufacturer instruction may be the primary authority for operating a specific device, while a guideline may be more appropriate for professional practice and a primary paper for an emerging laboratory method.

4. How sources are selected

1. Define the exact claim, audience, jurisdiction and date sensitivity.
2. Search for authoritative guidance and high-level evidence first.
3. Use primary studies when detail, novelty or disagreement requires them.
4. Check publication date, version, corrections, retractions and conflicts.
5. Compare multiple sources for important or contested claims.
6. Record enough citation detail for later verification and updating.

5. Guidelines, laws and jurisdiction

Guidelines are identified by the issuing organisation and date or version where practical. A recommendation from one professional society is not automatically universal. Differences between organisations should be described when they affect the conclusion.

Legal and regulatory material is taken from official government, regulator or gazette sources wherever possible. Readers are reminded that laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Inside Embryo educational summaries are not legal advice or a substitute for checking the current official text.

6. Research studies and evidence strength

A single study is not presented as settled science when replication, broader evidence or guideline support is absent. Observational association is not described as causation. Laboratory or animal findings are not automatically assumed to produce human clinical benefit.

Where relevant, content should distinguish statistical significance from clinical importance and note major limitations such as small samples, selection bias, heterogeneous protocols, surrogate outcomes or short follow-up.

7. Preprints, abstracts and emerging evidence

Preprints and conference abstracts may be used to describe emerging work but are labelled as not yet fully peer reviewed when applicable. They should not be the sole basis for strong clinical or safety claims unless the preliminary nature and uncertainty are prominent.

8. Commercial, media and social sources

Manufacturer documents may support device specifications, intended use or official instructions, but promotional claims require independent evidence. News reports, blogs, anonymous pages and social-media posts may help identify a topic; they are not treated as primary scientific authority.

Affiliate or sponsored relationships do not increase a source’s evidentiary weight and must be disclosed where relevant.

9. Artificial intelligence is not a source

Generative AI, search summaries and automated answers are discovery or drafting aids—not scientific references. Any factual claim suggested by an automated system must be checked against the original, credible source before publication. Fabricated or unverifiable citations must not be used.

10. Citation and linking practice

• Citations should appear close enough to the relevant claim or in a clearly connected reference list.
• Original research is cited rather than a secondary summary when the original is important and accessible.
• Persistent identifiers, official pages or stable journal links are preferred where available.
• Direct quotations are limited, accurate, attributed and used lawfully.
• Tables and figures identify their data source and clarify whether they are adapted or original.
• Paywalled access does not by itself invalidate a source, but enough bibliographic detail should be provided to identify it.

11. Conflicting evidence and uncertainty

When credible sources disagree, Inside Embryo should not conceal the disagreement. Content may explain the competing positions, evidence quality, population, protocol differences and remaining uncertainty. Language such as “may,” “is associated with,” or “evidence is limited” is used when stronger certainty is not justified.

12. Source maintenance and corrections

References may be updated when guidelines change, links fail, studies are corrected or retracted, or better evidence becomes available. Replacing a broken link should preserve the intended source where possible. A source change that alters meaning may require a visible update under the Correction Policy.

13. Suggest or challenge a source

Readers can report an unreliable, outdated, misquoted or missing source. Include the page URL, exact statement, current citation and a proposed authoritative source where possible. Email admin@insideembryo.com with “Source Enquiry” or “Correction Request” in the subject.