STIs doubled in people over 55 in the last decade

By Isobel Williams via SWNS

The number of over 55s diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections has more than doubled in the last decade.

Experts suggest that the increase is a result of rising divorce rates, forgoing condoms, the availability of Viagra, the large number of older adults living together in retirement communities, and the increased use of dating apps.

A new study is calling for better sex education in Baby Boomers as rates of diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in older people are skyrocketing.

The research, to be presented at a pre-congress day for this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, was conducted by the University of Warsaw in Poland.

They looked at data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which indicates that rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis among US adults aged 55 and older have more than doubled over the past 10 years.

They also found that, in England, 31,902 new STIs were recorded in the over 45s in 2015, which rose to 37,692 in 2019 – an increase of 18 percent, with the majority of new diagnoses in men who have sex with men.

High STI prevalence estimates have also been reported more broadly in older adults around the world, including China, Korea, Kenya, and Botswana.

The research team say that the root of this problem comes from misconceptions around sexuality and sexual activity in older adults, stating that although the frequency of sexual activity tends to decline with age, older adults are still having lots of sex.

Professor Justyna Kowalska from the Medical University of Warsaw said: “People do not become asexual with age. In fact, with preventive medicine and improved lifestyles people are enjoying a healthy life and sex life for longer.

“Older people often find greater satisfaction in their sex lives due to experience and known expectations.

"We need more role models like Samantha Jones in the TV show Sex and the City to challenge stereotypes around older sexuality.”

The team refer to another English study where half of men and almost a third of women aged 70 and over reported being sexually active.

Their research suggests there are higher levels of sexual desire, greater sexual frequency, and more sexual partners among older men than women.

A retrospective study from the U.S. involving 420,790 couples aged 67 to 99 years, found that widowhood was associated with an increased risk of STIs in older men, but not women.

The STI rates in men were also seen to soar when Viagra hit the market.

Professor Kowalska added: “Rising divorce rates, forgoing condoms as there is no risk of pregnancy, the availability of drugs for sexual dysfunction, the large number of older adults living together in retirement communities, and the increased use of dating apps are likely to have contributed to the growing incidence of STIs in the over 50s.

“These data likely underestimate the true extent of the problem as limited access to sexual health services for the over 50s, and trying to avoid the stigma and embarrassment both on the part of older people and healthcare professionals, is leading to this age group not seeking help for STIs.

“These findings indicate that sexual risk taking is common among older adults, particularly men.”

The team suggests that better communication and education surrounding sex in the older generations could help tackle the issue.

Professor Kowalska said: “Older people have a right to good sexual health, so let’s normalize conversations around sex and older people, and change the narrative on aging.

“Given that the number of people aged 60 years and older is set to double worldwide by 2050 and the widespread availability of drugs to enhance sexual activity, health professionals must be proactive in discussing sexual concerns and making sexual health a routine part of general health care for older adults.”

She added: “Sexual health campaigns are focused on young people and overlook the needs and experiences of those aged 50 and older.

“Health promotion messages give the impression that condoms and concerns about STIs only apply to young people. But the dangers of undiagnosed and untreated STIs such as HPV-related cancers and onwards transmission are very real, particularly in this age group who are more likely to have underlying conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

“Increasing older adults’ knowledge of the risk of STIs and how to engage in safer sex is crucial to tackling record levels of STIs.

“Tailoring education programs to the over 50s and including peer support and ensuring they are located within existing community settings is vital to their success.”