How we get our numbers.
GutPattern only works if you can trust the numbers. So here’s exactly where they come from, what each one means, and the lines we will never cross — in plain language.
Where the data comes from
Every figure on GutPattern is built from real, patient-reported gut health stories — experiences people have shared in public online communities, plus stories contributed directly to GutPattern. We read each story and organize it into the same shape: symptoms, tests and their results, treatments tried, and the outcome the person reported. That shared structure is what lets thousands of individual experiences be compared side by side.
What each outcome means
When you see an outcome bar, it’s split into four parts. Each part is the share of reported stories that landed in that outcome for a given treatment.
Helped
The person reported the treatment clearly improved their symptoms.
Partially helped
Some improvement, but incomplete or short-lived.
No change
No meaningful difference either way.
Made worse
The person reported the treatment worsened their symptoms. We always show this — it's the honesty most sources hide.
We always phrase counts as “across N online patient stories” — never “N% of patients.” These are self-reported experiences, not a clinical trial, and our wording keeps that honest.
Lines we never cross
- Reshape or rewrite a story to fit a narrative.
- Nudge, round, or reclassify an outcome to look better (or worse).
- Invent a statistic, a story, or a treatment that wasn't reported.
We may lightly clean wording for readability, but the person’s symptoms, treatments, and reported outcome stay exactly as they told them.
Honest limitations
This is self-reported data, so it carries the biases of any lived experience: people who felt a strong effect (good or bad) are more likely to write about it, diagnoses aren’t independently verified, and outcomes reflect what people reported, not a controlled measurement. GutPattern is a way to compare real experiences — not a substitute for a clinician or for evidence-based medicine.
Frequently asked
Where does the data come from?
From real, patient-reported gut health stories — experiences people shared in public online communities, plus stories contributed directly to GutPattern. Each is organized into the same structure so experiences can be compared.
Why do you say “across N online patient stories” instead of “N% of patients”?
Because these are self-reported experiences, not a controlled clinical trial. We report how a distribution of real stories turned out — not a medical claim about all patients. The wording keeps us honest about exactly what the number is.
Is this medical advice?
No. GutPattern organizes reported experiences so you can compare them. It does not diagnose, prescribe, or recommend treatment. Always discuss care decisions with a qualified clinician.
Do you ever hide bad outcomes?
Never. Every treatment shows its full outcome split, including the share of people who reported it made them worse. Hiding that would defeat the entire point of GutPattern.