Who said that sexually transmitted diseases are just for the younger generations? A new study published in the British Medical Journal concluded that the number of people over 45 with an STD doubled in the last ten years in Britain, as the result of a higher divorce rate. They also said that four out of five people aged 50 to 90 are sexually active.
Cases of chlamydia and genital herpes doubled, the researchers warned. Syphilis is also making a comeback in Britain. This horrible STD was nearly eliminated in the last century, but cases have increased four-fold in the last decade. They also found that on out of every five people receiving treatment for HIV are over 50 years of age, which again is double the amount it was a decade back. In addition, men who use Viagra are much more likely to have an STD especially in the first year of use.
The doctors think that the increased number of sexually transmitted diseases among the over-5os is mainly due to the higher divorce rate. Before getting divorced, these people may have been in very long marriages and therefore, when they meet someone else (perhaps also around the same age and newly divorced) they think that "safe sex messages" do not apply to them. Teenagers may be the focal point of most STD prevention campaigns, but this study sheds a new light on the STD matter.
The message is clear use a condom, even if you are over 50. There is a lot to be said for annual STD testing, even for those who are married. If your spouse has an affair, you may end up with the unpleasant fruits of that affair. Oh, and if you use Viagra, definitely enjoy your sex safely, with a condom, and hopefully with one partner.
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