‘My Vagina Makes Funny Noises’: Analyzing Online Forums to Assess the Real Sexual Health Concerns of Young People.

ABSTRACT. One hundred online sexual health forum pages were analyzed to identify sexual health concerns of young people. Pages collected from five popular forum Web sites posted in August 2011 were indexed, noting demographics, primary complaint, type of question and response, misconceptions of medical concepts, and general keywords. Gaps in knowledge were identified regarding tampon use, menstrual fluid, hormonal contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and signs of pregnancy. Forum participants searched online using symptoms, a finding that suggests Web sites providing sexual health information to young people should be organized by symptom. Sex education should inform students about transmission risks associated with common sexual practices rather than focusing on diseases and should teach how to find and access local services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]