Editorial Standards
At Midline, we believe you deserve better than vague wellness claims and sponsored "top picks." Every piece of content we publish is built on a simple promise: we do the research so you don't have to spend your Sunday night deep in a Reddit thread at 2am.
This page explains exactly how we work: what we research, how we evaluate products, how we make money, and what happens when we get something wrong
We’re passionate about storytelling, creating a space where ideas come alive, curiosity thrives, and readers feel inspired to make informed choices.
Our Independence
We are not owned by, funded by, or affiliated with any supplement company, pharmaceutical brand, or healthcare provider. No brand can pay for a positive review, and no sponsorship influences our recommendations.
When we recommend a product, it's because our research supports it.
Not because someone asked us to.
How We Research
Every article we publish follows a structured process designed to separate evidence from noise.
Literature Review
We start with peer-reviewed research: clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published in indexed journals. We prioritise studies conducted on perimenopausal and postmenopausal women specifically, not extrapolated from general population data. When a claim is based on limited, early-stage, or animal-only research, we say so.
Source Hierarchy
Not all evidence is equal. We weight sources in this order:
1. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Cochrane, PubMed-indexed)
2. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in relevant populations
3. Observational and cohort studies
4. Expert clinical guidance (NICE, NAMS, IMS position statements)
5. Traditional use and preliminary research (clearly labelled as such)
Expert Consultation
We consult with qualified healthcare professionals (GPs, endocrinologists, registered dietitians, and menopause specialists) to gut-check our interpretation of the evidence. We name our sources when they consent; otherwise, we note their credentials. We are actively building a formal advisory network of clinicians and researchers with specialist menopause expertise, and we'll share more about that panel as it develops.
How We Evaluate Products
When we review or recommend a product, we assess it across five criteria. Every product review on this site includes a rating against this framework.
1. Clinical Evidence Quality
Does peer-reviewed research support this ingredient, at this dose, for menopause-related symptoms? We look for human trials with meaningful sample sizes, not just a single rodent study or a brand-funded white paper.
2. Third-Party Testing and Certification
Has the product been independently verified by organisations like USP, NSF International, or ConsumerLab? Third-party testing confirms that what's on the label is actually in the bottle, and that contaminants aren't.
3. Ingredient Transparency and Dosage
Does the brand disclose every ingredient and its exact dosage? We do not recommend products that hide behind "proprietary blends" without disclosing individual amounts. You deserve to know what you're taking and whether it matches the doses used in clinical research.
4. Community Feedback and Real-World Experience
What are real women actually saying? We look across verified purchase reviews, community forums, and our own reader surveys. A product can look great on paper and still fall short in practice, and vice versa.
5. Value for Money
We consider cost per serving, subscription traps, return policies, and whether a cheaper alternative delivers equivalent results. Expensive doesn't mean better, and we'll tell you when a budget option holds its own.
Community Insight
We actively monitor what real women are experiencing and discussing. Community forums, surveys, and reader feedback help us identify the topics and products that actually matter, not just what's trending on Instagram.
How We Make Money
Transparency about revenue is non-negotiable. Here's how this site sustains itself:
Affiliate links
Some links on this site are affiliate links. When you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This includes links to retailers like Amazon and direct-to-brand stores.
What this means for you:
Affiliate relationships never influence which products we recommend, how we rank them, or what we write. Our editorial team evaluates products before any affiliate link is ever placed. We recommend first; monetise second.
What we don't do:
- We don't accept payment for reviews or positive coverage.
- We don't let brands preview or approve our content before publication.
- We don't run sponsored posts disguised as editorial content. If something is sponsored or gifted, it will be clearly marked. Our current policy is to decline gifted products for review.
Every page that contains affiliate links includes a disclosure notice at the top, in line with FTC guidelines and the UK's ASA/CAP Code.
Health Disclaimer
We are a research and education resource, not a medical provider. Nothing on this site should be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
We know that "talk to your GP" can feel like a frustrating non-answer, especially when you've already been dismissed or told your symptoms are "just part of ageing." We get it. But menopause affects every woman differently, and some interactions genuinely matter: certain supplements can interfere with HRT, affect blood clotting, or interact with medications for thyroid conditions, blood pressure, or mood disorders. That's not a disclaimer we're copy-pasting. It's something we've seen cause real problems.
Our goal is to arm you with the evidence so that when you do speak to your GP, you're walking in with better questions and the confidence to push for proper answers. When we cite research, we link to it so you and your healthcare provider can review the evidence together.
Our Corrections Policy
We hold ourselves to a high standard, and sometimes we'll get things wrong. When that happens, here's what we do:
Factual errors
If we publish incorrect information (a wrong dosage, a misattributed study, an outdated guideline) we correct it promptly and add a visible correction note at the top of the article explaining what changed and when.
Evolving evidence
Science moves forward. When new research materially changes our position on a product or ingredient, we update the relevant content and note the update date. We don't quietly change old articles. We flag what's new. We review our most-read content on a quarterly basis to ensure it reflects the latest available evidence.
Product reformulations
Supplement brands change their formulas more often than you'd think, sometimes improving them, sometimes quietly cutting corners. If a product we've reviewed changes its formulation, dosages, or third-party testing status, we reassess it against our original criteria and update the review accordingly. If we become aware of a reformulation, we note it clearly so you're never relying on outdated information.
How to flag an issue
If you spot an error or believe we've misrepresented the evidence, please contact us. We take corrections seriously and will respond to every substantive claim. Reach out at hello@midlinehealth.com
AI Assisted Content
We use AI tools to assist with research, drafting, and content production. Every piece of content is reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by a human before publication. AI helps us work faster. It doesn't replace our editorial judgement, and it never has the final say on what we recommend.
We believe in being upfront about this because transparency is the whole point of this page. If our process changes, we'll update this section accordingly.
What We Ask of You
We put in the hours so that you can make more informed decisions, faster. But we ask one thing in return: please don't treat our content as a substitute for professional medical advice. Use it as a starting point, a way to walk into your next GP appointment with better questions and more confidence.