Last Chance To Have Your Say In Sex Survey

An urgent call has been made for men who have sex with men (MSM) to participate in a ground-breaking research project that will be the foundation of critical sexual health policy and services in Ireland.

The Gay Health Network (GHN) and HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) are calling for more MSM living in Ireland to complete the European internet sex survey (EMIS) at www.emis2017.eu.

This research comes at a critical time in men’s sexual health and reflects the community interest in promoting awareness especially in regional and non-urban settings. The EMIS 2010 Ireland findings were a key input in the joint HSE and Gay Health Network (GHN) first National Sexual Health and HIV awareness programme for MSM (www.man2man.ie), which is now one of the most important sexual health tools for MSM in Ireland.

The findings have also contributed to the planning, promotion and increased access to HIV and STI testing, free condoms and to the greater understanding of the psychological needs of men living with HIV in Ireland. It also highlighted HIV-related stigma and homophobic attacks on MSM.

According to Dr Derval Igoe of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HSE: “As cases of HIV and other STIs continue among men who have sex with men, the information from EMIS 2017, as with previous surveys, will provide vital information for the GHN, HSE and other organisations to help plan services and campaigns in Ireland. It will also greatly contribute to the knowledge of MSM sexual health needs across Europe.”

The EMIS 2017 survey is due to end on January 31, 2018 and we at GCN are urging our male readers across to join tens-of-thousands across Europe who have completed it so far.