Press

NetDoctor, the UK’s leading health portal website, has today revealed the results of its latest ABCe audit. Over 2.5 million users turn to the site every month – many of them for rather intimate advice.

The site, which aims to break down the language barrier between the medical industry and patients, says this figure reflects the crucial role that internet medicine now plays.

Roger Henderson, Medical Director of Netdoctor, says:

“The most popular areas of inquiry are those relating to sexual problems: penis size, the morning after pill, female orgasms and lack of sex drive. We believe patients are taking advantage of the relative anonymity of the internet to ask for help with problems they would be too embarrassed to take to their GP. While face to face medicine is obviously very important, there is clearly a huge need out there for additional information and support. We’re glad to help.”

While sexual queries are amongst the most popular, Netdoctor fields inquiries on all sorts of different topics.

Alex Ballantyne, NetDoctor’s Managing Director says:

“People are using Netdoctor to learn about a whole range of conditions. Topping the list recently were blood glucose, gall bladder disease and chicken pox. Internet research can help patients manage their problems, and being well-informed vastly improves the quality of interaction with medical professionals. I believe the site helps people take charge of their health.”

For further information please contact:

Kate Taylor
Kate.taylor@hearstdigital.co.uk
07866 853 401

About NetDoctor’s ABCe audit
Completed March 2007 from 1 March to 31 March.  Unique users 2,529,938, page impressions 7,958,545

About NetDoctor.co.uk

NetDoctor believes that in the future the world of medicine will be dominated by a new patient who seeks out critical information on the Internet - and that this will take a new type of doctor who must help the patient assess the quality of that information. NetDoctor.co.uk is committed to helping both parties in their quest.

Over 250 of the UK's and Europe's leading doctors and health professionals write, edit and update the contents of NetDoctor.co.uk. In addition to creating written content for the patient these same health professionals respond to user’s questions and concerns regarding general health.

NetDoctor’s editorial independence and reliance on professional advice is its single most important asset. There is a clear distinction between the editorial and business staff. As a matter of policy our doctors, writers and editors are not allowed to be influenced or answerable to our sponsors or advertisers. NetDoctor follows the same standards of practice as the leading medical journals.

NetDoctor.co.uk Ltd became part of the Hearst digital Network, the digital division of the National Magazine Company Ltd. in March 2006.

About The Hearst digital Network

The Hearst digital Network, a division of National Magazines, publishes the following websites: www.handbag.com, www.netdoctor.co.uk, www.company.co.uk, www.allaboutyou.com, www.babyexpert.co.uk, www.cosmogirl.co.uk, www.cosmopolitan.co.uk, www.prima.co.uk, www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk, www.youandyourwedding.co.uk,  www.countryliving.co.uk, www.menshealth.co.uk, www.runnersworld.co.uk.

About The National Magazine Company

The National Magazine Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hearst Corporation established by William Randolph Hearst in 1910.  NatMag publishes 15 consumer titles in the UK: Coast, Company, CosmoGIRL!, Cosmopolitan, Cosmopolitan Bride, Country Living, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, House Beautiful, Prima, Prima Baby, SHE, You & Your Wedding, and Zest.  The group publishes a further two magazines, Men’s Health and Runner’s World, through a joint venture known as NatMag Rodale and three large scale weeklies, Best , Reveal and Real People through a joint venture known as ACP-NatMag.