Terrence Higgins Trust and Sigma Research are launching the annual National Gay Men’s Sex Survey for the TENTH time today. Last year 16,000 men in the UK took part and this year they hope to get an even better response.  The survey can be completed by logging onto www.sigmasurvey.org.uk. 

The Survey is carried out by Sigma Research (University of Portsmouth) in collaboration with over 150  organisations as part of the CHAPS Partnership’s health promotion work with gay men.  Peter Weatherburn, Director at Sigma Research said:  “Please take the time to fill the questionnaire in – it’ll only take ten minutes and you’ll be participating in the largest survey of gay and bisexual men anywhere in the world! The information you give us is invaluable.”
 
Will Nutland, Head of Gay Men’s Health Promotion at THT said: “The survey is vital as it helps us develop and target our HIV prevention and sexual health promotion work.  It’s only made possible by the participation of thousands of men each year.  Previous surveys have told us a lot about men’s sexual health and this year we’re hoping to get more responses than ever.”

As well as regular questions about sexual behaviour and HIV testing, new questions this year include using poppers, HIV transmission and the law and Hepatitis C.  Men will also be asked for the first time whether they have entered into a civil partnership.

Will Nutland said “We’ve broadened the survey out so we can learn more about gay men’s attitudes towards a variety of issues relevant to sexual health. By including a wider range of questions we are hoping to be able to build a clearer picture of how external factors contribute towards men’s sex lives and health.”

The survey can be completed online until the end of September at www.sigmasurvey.org.uk , and is also available in booklet form from gay venues, support groups and organisations across the UK.

Ends

Notes to editors

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services to over 50,000 people a year.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health.
• Sigma Research is a social research group specialising in the behavioural and policy aspects of HIV and sexual health. It also undertakes research and development work on aspects of lesbian, gay and bisexual health and well-being.
• The National Gay Men’s Sex Survey has run every year since 1997 and is the world’s largest annual survey of sex between men. Findings from previous years can be accessed at www.sigmaresearch.org.uk