From this week, Southampton women between the ages of 20 and 34 will be able to register for the groundbreaking Southampton Women’s Survey on the Internet. The survey, which is open to all women in Southampton aged 20-34, is being undertaken to assess women’s health, diets and lifestyles with a view to improving the health of women and children in the future. The survey website is being launched today, Monday 11 September, and can be found at http://www.swsurvey.soton.ac.uk. The website has information about the survey and comments from women already taking part. There is also an on-line registration form for Southampton women wishing to take part.

The Southampton Women’s Survey is a unique study of women’s health, and the largest of its kind ever undertaken. Southampton has been chosen as the best location for the survey because the city has a population that in many respects represents the whole country. The survey was launched in 1998 and so far over 7,000 women have taken part. Of those, over 500 have subsequently become pregnant and joined the second phase of the survey in which they receive extra scans. The growth of the baby is related to the mother’s pre-pregnant health as assessed at the initial interview in the first phase.

Survey co-ordinator Dr Hazel Inskip says: ‘Increasing numbers of people have access to the Internet and are using it for information and communication. The new survey website will allow women to find out more about what we are doing from the comfort of their own homes or offices, and make it easier for them to join in if they wish.’ ‘Already Southampton women have been extremely generous with their time in helping us with this huge medical research project, which aims to improve their health and that of their children. We hope that even more women will want to take part once they have seen our website.’