Common rates worldwide sexually transmitted infections (STI) is increasing among people over 50 years of age. In some cases, rates are rising faster than among younger people.
Last data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that among people aged 55 and over, the incidence of gonorrhea and chlamydia, the 2 commonest sexually transmitted diseases, greater than doubled between 2012 and 2022.
Australian STI surveillance data reflects similar trends. Between 2013 and 2022, there was a gradual increase within the number of diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis among people aged 40 and older. For example, in 2013, 5,883 cases of chlamydia were reported in Australians over the age of 40, compared to 10,263 in 2022.
AND 2020 survey of Australian women also found that between 2000 and 2018, there was a greater increase in sexually transmitted diseases among women aged 55-74 than among young women.
Although the general rate of common sexually transmitted diseases is highest among young adultsthe numerous increase within the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among middle-aged and older people suggests that we must always pay more attention to sexual health throughout our lives.
Why are rates of sexually transmitted diseases rising among older people?
STI rates are is increasing worldwide in all age groupsand the rise within the number of middle-aged and older people is consistent with this trend.
However, the rise in STIs among older people is probably going due to a mix changing practices around sex and relationships and hidden sexual health needs in this group.
The “boomer” generation got here of age within the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies. They are the generation of free love and their attitude towards sexat the same time as they age, it is totally different from the generations that preceded them.
Taking into consideration average age of divorce in Australia is over 43 years old, and the Internet has opened up latest possibilities dating after separationit isn’t surprising that middle-aged and older people explore latest sexual practices or find multiple sexual partners.
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It can also be possible that middle-aged and older people haven’t had exposure to sexual health education at college or don’t address current secure sex messageswhich are mainly geared toward young people. Therefore, condoms could appear unnecessary for individuals who are not trying to avoid pregnancy. Older people can too lack of confidence in negotiating secure sex or access to screening for sexually transmitted diseases.
Hidden sexual health needs
In modern life, the sexual lives of older people are largely invisible. It is usually related to aging and an older body loss of power and attractivenesswhich is reflected within the stereotype of older people as asexual and in derogatory jokes about older people having sex.
WITH some exceptionswe see few positive representations of older sexual bodies in film and television.
The sexuality of older people can also be largely invisible in public policy. In Australian Politics Review Researchers found that middle-aged and older people were rarely mentioned when it got here to sexual and reproductive health.
Sexual health policies tend to goal groups with the best rates of sexually transmitted diseases, which excludes most older people. Because middle-aged and older people are beyond reproductive age, they are also not included in reproductive health policies. This means a general lack of any policy regarding sex or sexual health among middle-aged and older people.
Moreover, sexual health policy focuses on risk fairly than sexual well-being. Sexual well-beingincluding freedom and the power to enjoy sexis strongly linked to the general health and quality of life of adults of all ages. Including sexual well-being as a policy priority would enable a deal with secure and respectful sex and relationships throughout adult life.
Without this priority, now we have limited knowledge about what promotes sexual well-being as people age and limited funding for initiatives to engage with midlife and older adults on these issues.
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How can we support the sexual health and well-being of older people?
Most sexually transmitted diseases might be easily cured. Serious complications nevertheless, it might probably occur when sexually transmitted diseases go undiagnosed and untreated for long periods of time. If left untreated, sexually transmitted diseases will also be passed on to others.
Late diagnosis is just not unusual because some STIs may cause no symptoms and many individuals don’t routinely screen for STIs. Older heterosexual adults are generally less likely to accomplish that than other groups seek regular screening for sexually transmitted diseases.
For middle-aged and older people, STIs can also be diagnosed late because some are diagnosed too late doctors don’t start testing for fear of offending or assume that the danger of sexually transmitted diseases among older people is negligible.
Many doctors do are reluctant to talk about sexual health with older patients unless the patient specifically raises the difficulty. However, older people may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable raising issues related to sex.
A superb first step could be resources for healthcare professionals and patients to facilitate conversations about sexual health and STI screening with older patients.
We must also make sure that we address the rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases among middle-aged and older people. sexual health promotion targets these age groups and improves access to clinical services.
More broadly, it is crucial to consider ways to ensure sexual well-being is a priority in midlife and older maturity policy and practice.
A comprehensive approach to older adults’ sexual health that explicitly highlights the importance of sex and intimacy in people’s lives will enhance our ability to respond more effectively to sexual health and STI prevention across the lifespan.