The data: Seven in 10 women say they feel more prepared for conversations with their doctors after soliciting Reddit forums for health information, according to an April survey from Weber Shandwick and Reddit.

• Nearly half (47%) of the women who found health information on Reddit say it helped them understand what is normal versus concerning.
• Roughly one-third took specific actions such as asking their doctor a new question (32%) or seeking additional medical advice or a second opinion (30%).
• Just 9% say they did nothing with the information they found on Reddit.

Why it matters: Women often rely on peers and social media for health information. More than half (57%) of women use social media to look up health information at least occasionally, per a July 2025 KFF survey. Women are also more likely to say they want to learn from people with similar concerns or experiences: 39% compared with 32% of men, per a May KFF tracking poll.

Women are more candid about their health on Reddit, which means they could share information in forums that they wouldn’t disclose in traditional healthcare settings. Some 81% of women are comfortable talking about their bodies on Reddit, even more than the 72% who say the same about talking with friends and family, per Weber Shandwick and Reddit.

Implications for healthcare and pharma marketers: Reddit can give marketers insight into the health questions women are asking, the information they may be missing, and the context they’ll bring into healthcare settings. These conversations can help identify where patient and provider communications aren't addressing their concerns, or aren’t clear enough.

Further, social listening and AI tools can surface recurring questions, information gaps, and the language women use to describe symptoms and experiences across Reddit’s niche health communities. Marketers can use those insights to inform patient education, healthcare provider resources, and messaging.