Welcome to another year of hot sexual health tips and tricks.
What a year we had at Emen8 HQ? between mpox outbreaks, meme dumps, PrEP shortages, and new STD prevention methods, it’s been very busy!
So we thought we’d shed some light on what happened in 2024 in sexual health and how you as a community stood up for yourselves and each other, managing some difficult circumstances.
If you prefer listening to reading, check out ours “Year End Review 2024 with Emen8” on the Well, Well, Well podcast.
Mpox is back, but not for long!
It was the return no one asked for. As of April 2024, there was a second outbreak of mpox in Australia. Although new mpox cases have slowed down since November, we’re not out yet!
The good news is that we think you all have something to do with this drop since you got vaccinated and tested. It’s clearly working – so keep it up. This would not have been possible without the local clinics and sex sites that had pop-up mpox vaccination clinics, with the help of local LGBTQ health organizations. Thank you!
Although cases are decreasing, if you haven’t received both doses of your mpox vaccination, it’s not too late. With the Midsumma and Mardi Gras festival starting at the end of January, make sure you have maximum protection.
In November, we launched a national mpox campaign. The videos star great community talent teaching us the basics of mpox. Ahead of the 2025 party season, there’s still time to protect your game by getting two doses of the vaccine (especially before you travel) and knowing the symptoms of mpox. Check out the content below and feel free to give it a like or share if you come across it in the wild!
The PrEP supply ran out and the community stepped up
In September, a PrEP supply issue left most chemists out of stock. The community responses we saw were fantastic, with people sharing information about which chemists in their area people could continue to get PrEP from and that self-administration was a valid option. We’ve also published a blog to help you keep track of your PrEP regimen during a supply problem.
Need a refill? Many people take PrEP differently (like on demand) depending on how much sex they have. If you are on PrEP or have previously been on PrEP, we recommend that you always have a bottle on standby. you never know when you’ll need it and you’ll save yourself from any last minute rush.
Our friends at PAN (PrEPaccessNOW) also created one paper to check stock of PrEP at local pharmacies across Australia. These responses show that gay and bi+ guys are taking precautions to stay safe from HIV, which we love to see!
Emen8’s meme dump mastery
You asked for it and we listened. We upped our social media game this year and you loved it!
Your favorite memes for 2024:
Chubby, sweet and please for cream
Follow us Instagram for more mayhem memes, simple health tips, and tips to bring a strong sex and dating game in 2025!
Injectable PrEP could soon be coming to Australia…
New ways to take PrEP was one of the key topics of 2024. Not only did you like our article on long-acting injectable PrEP, but more than 70% of PrEP users in Australia would prefer using long-acting forms of PrEP instead of daily pills.
Clinical trial results of Lenacapavir — an injectable PrEP option for 6 months — show remarkable success, and hopefully that means it will be available here in the coming years. Keep your eye on Emen8 as we bring you the latest sexual health developments you’ll want to know about.
Doxy-PEP — could a pill prevent STDs?
Another exciting development in sexual health this year has been a lot more talk of Doxy-PEP coming Down Under. Doxy-PEP involves the use of doxycycline, an antibiotic that can greatly reduce your risk of getting syphilis and chlamydia when taken right after sex.
It has been released in other countries, such as the USA, and it is the first time Cases of STDs have decreased among gay and bi+ men in these areas over the past 20 years.
NSW Health released a Doxy-PEP decision aid to help you and your doctor decide whether Doxy-PEP might be right for you.
The advances in prevention and treatment we’ve seen this year add more options to the sexual health toolbox for gay and bi+ men. Check out our interactive Toolkit for all your sexual health essentials!
HIV self-test kits are available throughout Australia
A new, easy and discreet way to test for HIV has come to you this year. These smart self-test kits give you quick test results in the privacy of your own home.
You can order them online free or get them at CONNECT vending machines in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and soon nationwide. News from the Adelaide vending machine pilot program revealed that 64% of users had never been tested for HIV before.
This is a big win, encouraging frequent HIV testing from every corner of the country!
Don’t get stuck on this blog
Emen8 website is seriously training with all your opinions in 2024! Drop 40 new articles for your enjoyment last year. Let’s relive some of your favorites:
Turns out you love sex and dating – who would have thought!?
We continue to be excited to unload more hot, juicy content for you in 2025. Stay tuned and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to maintain the peak of your sexual health… and enjoy this delicious, spicy content!
