Where our facts come from
We build articles from the most reliable sources available, in this order:
- Peer-reviewed research, preferably large studies and systematic reviews.
- Guidance from professional bodies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the World Health Organization.
- Government and national health data, such as national family health surveys and census data.
- Established reference datasets, such as the Shared cM Project for shared-DNA ranges.
- For laws, the statutes themselves and reputable legal summaries, with the date we last checked.
Every factual claim in a health or legal article is checked against at least one of these sources, and we list key sources at the end of the article.
Medical review
We're building a panel of board-certified genetic counselors and clinicians to review our health content. When an article has been medically reviewed, it shows the reviewer's name, credentials and the review date. Articles without a named reviewer have been fact-checked against their sources but not yet medically reviewed. Nothing we publish is medical advice.
Culture and religion
We write about traditions such as gotra, sapinda, kundli matching, family registers and religious teachings on cousin marriage. We describe them respectfully and accurately, cite established scholarship, and never issue religious rulings. Where science and a tradition disagree, we say what the evidence shows, without mocking anyone's beliefs.
Tone
We use humor about cousins, aunties and awkward family dinners. We don't use humor, fear or shame about health conditions, disabilities, infertility or painful family discoveries. We report real numbers, including reassuring ones, and we never tell anyone who they should be with.
How we use AI
Some research and drafts are prepared with AI assistance. A person checks every article against its sources and edits it before publication, and AI never invents sources or statistics on our site.
Updates and corrections
Laws, guidelines and research change. We review our legal and health articles at least once a year and show the date each one was last updated. If you spot an error, email founder@dontmarryyourbro.com. We correct mistakes quickly, and significant corrections are noted on the article.
Independence
Some links are affiliate links, and we may sell services. Commissions and sales never decide what we recommend or how we report research. If a free option is better for you, we'll say so.