A major European internet survey aimed at men who have sex with men (MSM) has been launched in Ireland.

EMIS 2017 aims to generate data that is required to understand the sexual health needs of MSM, including gay, bisexual and transgender men. This data will also be used to help direct HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programmes.

According to Dr Derval Igoe of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), last year, MSM accounted for just over half of new HIV diagnoses in Ireland, and the number of gonorrhoea and syphilis notifications in this group is on the increase.

"A HSE multi-sectoral response group is implementing an action plan to reverse these increasing trends and this survey will provide us with up-to-date information on sexual behaviours," she explained.

Promotion of the survey in Ireland is being led by the Gay Health Network, which is supported by the HSE.

"EMIS 2017 takes around 20 minutes to complete and is anonymous. We are encouraging as many men as possible to be a part of this survey. If you are over 17, living in Ireland and are a man who has sex with other men, then this survey is for you," explained Mick Quinlan of the Gay Health Network.

EMIS 2017 can be accessed here and is available in 33 languages.