Florida Health Study: Sexually Active Seniors Particularly Vulnerable to STDs

Interesting how every article that comes out on senior sexuality and the increase in STIs states that "experts are beginning to acknowledge.....". This is not news anymore as the trend has been going on for several years now. Particularly in Florida, which has the highest concentration of individuals 65 and older, seniors and sexually transmitted infections are not headline news. However, repetition of fact does not necessarily sink in. About 4 years ago, there was a piece on CNN reporting of the high incidence of STIs among retirees in a popular Florida retirement home. I contacted the president of this organization and asked if they do any safer sex education for their residents, citing the high rise of STIs among their clientele. I was told emphatically that they do not get involved in the private lives of their residents and they were not interested. If information on how to protect oneself is not accessible or does not filter down to those engaging in high risk behaviours, what can we do to protect this vulnerable population? We need the help of the administrators, the CEOs, the marketing and programming departments of retirement homes and senior housing complexes to make this information available. It is not interfering in clients' private lives, its presenting information to them that will inform on protecting their health and the health of their partner(s).

MCauch
SageHealth Network
May 22, 2010
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Florida Health Study: Sexually Active Seniors Particularly Vulnerable to STDs
By Sandra Quinlan, JusticeNewsFlash.com
May 11, 2010

Teenagers and young adults have long been urged to practice safe sex as a means of preventing the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases. On the other hand, experts are beginning to acknowledge a different generation of STD-susceptible individuals: senior citizens. Specialists have even deemed unprotected sex to be a rising trend amongst Floridian retirees, according to an MSNBC report.

West Palm Beach gynecologist and sexual health specialist Dr. Maureen Whelihan noted, “The population over 60 is having a lot of sex… Some of the barriers to sex when you’re younger are: there’s not enough time, there are kids in the house, there’s no privacy, you’re tired. When retirement occurs, besides traveling, what else is there to do but have great sex?”

Since pregnancy is no longer a factor, seniors are less likely to use condoms during intercourse. However, their participation in unprotected sex thus leaves them increasingly vulnerable to STDs.

Floridians over the age of 40 reportedly had the “fastest growing rate of Chlamydia cases” in the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health officials have apparently noticed an increase in the rate of seniors infected with herpes, gonorrhea, HIV and AIDS as well.

Dr. Whelihan admitted her patients commonly tend to disregard advice to use condoms. Nonetheless, she advised sexually active seniors to undergo routine screening for potential STDs as a precaution.

For more information on how to spot and treat sexually transmitted diseases, individuals are urged to refer to the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of STD Prevention and Control Web site.

Original source: http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/2010/vulnerable.htm