Sexual Health: Frisky over-50s need to know facts of life

There was a time when people thought sexually transmitted infections were the domain of the younger generation.

With an ageing population and more people divorcing in middle age, it now appears that STIs are increasing among the baby boom generation.

According to the Family Planning Association, the oldest person to call their sexual health helpline was an 82-year-old man in a new relationship.

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New figures suggest people becoming more sexually adventurous in later life could be leading to health problems.

STIs are a very real possibility among couples who are past worrying about conceiving a baby.

Figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that between 2005 and 2009, herpes infections rose by nearly 83 per cent in those aged over 45. There was also a rise in the other common STIs – genital warts, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

As a result, it is the over 45s who are being targeted by

a new Family Planning Association campaign during the current Sexual Health Awareness week dubbed Middle Aged Spread.

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"Recently, we have seen a rise in the number of STIs contracted by the over 50s," says Alicia Gilpin sexual health lead at NHS Sheffield.

"Lots of people over 50 are coming out of relationships and dating again and many are finding new love at this point in their lives.

"The problem is that many people don't think safer sex applies to them, if they have been in a long-term relationship, safe sex may be something they haven't had to think about for years."

NHS Sheffield is launching a new website www. sheffieldsexualhealth.nhs.uk which aims to be a one-stop shop that will help people in the city find the services available to them and also offer answers to their sexual health questions.

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The site offers a postcode search facility to find your nearest services, advice on contraception, order forms for home testing kits for Chlamydia and advice for common problems or questions people may have regarding their sexual health.

"www.shefieldsexualhealth.nhs.uk is aimed at everybody across the city regardless of age, gender, race and sexuality," explains Alicia Gilpin.

Rebecca Findlay, of the FPA says: "Although we tend to think of younger people having STIs, there's been a marked increase in the number of STIs in the over 45 age group over the last 10 years.

"People are coming out of long-term relationships and dating again, which is great. But some of them aren't using condoms – possibly because they're not worrying about pregnancy any more. They think the safe sex message isn't relevant to them, when the truth is, it's relevant to anyone who has sex."

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She stresses that you don't need to have lots of sexual partners to get an STI, and not everyone who has an infection knows about it.

Some symptoms don't appear for weeks or months and then they may go away – in the meantime you could still have the infection and pass it on to someone else.

While these are clearly issues a couple starting a sexual relationship should talk about, an older couple may not be comfortable discussing these matters.

"Older generations need to think about sexual health in 2010, rather than as it was when they were younger," says Rebecca. "They may have lived through a lot of sexual change, but it doesn't prepare them for being sexually active today."

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She points out that middle-aged people won't have had sex education at school, and are much less used to talking about sex than younger generations.

Left untreated, many STIs can be painful, can permanently damage your health, and can be passed on to someone else. Most can be treated, sometimes with antibiotics, and it's usually best if treatment is started as soon as possible.

"Using a condom is the best thing to do," advises Rebecca Findlay. "People in their late 50s, 60s or 70s aren't going to see each other as being at risk of having an STI in the same way that 17-year-olds might. But an STI will find you just as attractive, whatever your age."

The HPA has just published the UK's rising figures and its head of STIs, Dr Gwenda Hughes, points out that while improved testing is part of the reason for the increase, more people having unsafe sex is also a factor.

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She says: "Although rates of infection are highest in young adults, we have seen an increase in diagnoses in all age groups, including those aged over 45.

"It's important to continually reinforce the safe sex message: If you have a new or casual sexual partner, using a condom is the surest way to avoid a sexually transmitted infection."

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