STDs are on the rise in the elderly. It's a disturbing trend that some experts say is the direct result of the introduction of erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra. Perhaps since grandpa can recover his sexual prowess, older couples are simply having more sex than they used to.
According to new figures, the number of 50 to 90-year-olds with a sexually transmitted disease has doubled in the last decade. And a full 80 percent of people in this age category describe themselves as sexually active.
An editorial published in the February 2, 2012 issue of Student British Medical Journal said baby boomers who helped usher in the sexual revolution have evidently stayed sexually active.
We spend a lot of time and effort educating young people on safe sex. It's ironic that older Americans also seem to need "the talk".
Some experts say when older men go see the doctor to get a prescription for their erectile dysfunction, doctors should take the opportunity to discuss safe sex and the risks of developing STDs.
"Just like younger people, older people who are sexually active are at risk for STDs," said Rachel von Simson of King's College London.
Specifically, the numbers illustrate the disturbing trend. in 2000, there were 900 cases of syphilis in Americans 45 to 64 years old. In 2010, that number grew to more than 2,500. In 2000, 6,700 Americans in the elderly age group were diagnosed with chlamydia. By 2010 that number swelled to more than 19,000. The diagnosis of HIV in people over 50 also doubled during that decade.
