International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Teenagers in the UK are increasingly comfortable chatting about their sexual health to an expert via their mobile phone.

According to Rachael Wyartt, who helps to run Ask Brook, a confidential advice site for the under-25s, the proliferation of smartphones and 3G internet connectivity has made the web a perfect place for young people to go to seek advice.

Speaking to the Guardian, Ms Wyartt said: "It was increasingly becoming apparent that this is how young people wanted to talk to us."

Meanwhile, sex education consultant Barbara Hastings-Asatourian told the news provider: "This is such an effective and rapid way to share important stuff."

Mobile phones are being used in a plethora of clinical situations and, for the most part, their introduction has been met with success.

In Zambia, for instance, mobile technology - and particularly SMS text messages - has halved the time it takes to diagnose HIV/AIDS, reducing the process from 44.2 to just 26.7 days.

Posted by Carla Mackenzie