Over 6,000 men attended the HSE Gay Men's Health Service (GMHS) last year, with the majority of these under the age of 29, a new report has shown.

The GMHS provides sexual health services for men who have sex with men (MSM), including STI testing, sexual health awareness and support.

According to its Annual Report 2014, 6,050 men attended the service last year and several hundred were subsequently diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The report revealed that 338 people were diagnosed with gonorrhea last year, a 17% increase on 2013's figure. Almost four in 10 of these diagnoses related to first-time attendees to the service.

Eighty-four men were diagnosed with syphilis, an 18% increase on 2013's figure. Almost two in three of these were first-time attendees.

Fifty were diagnosed with HIV, a 30% increase on 2013's number. Over half of these were first-time attendees.

Meanwhile, 214 men were diagnosed with chlamydia, a similar figure to 2013. Four in 10 of these were first-time attendees.

According to Mick Quinlan, manager of the GMHS, almost 930 men who used the service last year were first-time attendees - a 7% increase on 2013's figure.

"Some 37% were aged 24 or younger, rising to 68% for those aged 29 and younger," he said.

The report also noted a change in the demographic profile of those attending, with just over half of attendees born abroad, an increase of 23% when compared to 2013.

The report also revealed that among those being tested for STIs in 2014, 55% had never been tested before.

"It's important that we find ways to ensure that a higher proportion of sexually active gay and bisexual men seek STI screening services and that we build on increased levels of confidence that services are accessible and follow this with higher testing rate.

"The high rates of HIV for MSM along with the significant increase in other STIs, such as gonorrhoea and syphilis, highlights the importance of a targeted service for MSM," commented Patrick Lynch of the HSE.

The report was launched at the 13th Annual Gay Health Forum in Dublin Castle.

For more information on the GMHS, click here