Blog Post

Why You Shouldn't Listen to WebMD
Posted on 06/26/2017
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Why You Shouldn't Listen to WebMD

WebMD

At Doylestown Women's Health Center, we're proud to provide world-class obstetric and gynecology services to women throughout the Doylestown area, and we strive to take a compassionate approach to care. We believe patient education is critical to overall health and well-being, which is why we're always happy to talk with our patients and answer any questions they may have about their health care – and generally, we always prefer to be the ones answering those questions. The Internet has made a wealth of health information available at the touch of a button, and while that's often a good thing, it should never replace the conversations you have with a qualified professional OB/GYN or women's health care provider. Here are a few of the reasons we urge caution when consulting websites like WebMD for your women's healthcare information.

1. Web Information Isn't Contextual

Health care is a holistic practice: everything from your job to your genetics to your morning routine impacts the health of your body. Accordingly, it's important that your health care decisions be grounded in an overall understanding of your health and lifestyle. Information from a website is always one-size-fits-all, and it's a better idea to speak with a professional who knows your unique situation. 

2. It's Easy to Misdiagnose Yourself

It's always a good idea to be proactive about health care, and if something feels off, it's important to listen to your body and try to find out what's going on. That said, diagnosing medical conditions is an extremely complicated process that takes years of formal training to understand. There are so many possible symptoms and causes of a problem that it's impossible to know what you're dealing with until you've seen a trained women's health care doctor. 

3. It's Never a Substitute

Above all, you should never, ever treat online medical advice as a substitute for health care provided by a professional. It's alright to do your own research and learn more about your health care, but you should always bring that knowledge into a discussion with a certified doctor when making choices about how you'll approach your own health care. The only way to ensure you're making the right choice with your health care is by working with a doctor - plain and simple. 

Schedule a Consultation with Your Doylestown, PA Women's Health Center

Don't get us wrong: there's nothing wrong with doing research and taking a proactive stance on health care, but it's important that your health care decisions be made with the help of a trained professional. At Doylestown Women's Health Center, we're proud to provide comprehensive, compassionate healthcare to women throughout the Doylestown, PA area, helping our patients through pregnancy, gynecological health, and every other aspect of health care. If you'd like to consult your Doylestown, PA OB/GYN provider, feel free to call today at 215-340-2229 or schedule an appointment at our Doylestown, PA women's health center. We're excited to hear from you, and we look forward to helping you make the best choices possible with your health care.