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Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs) in Seniors
Lisa Reisman • Aug 28, 2019
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STDs in Seniors
As much as we don’t want to see it this way, seniors are just as sexually active as younger adults. In fact, an article in U.S. News points out that 40 percent of adults aged 45 to 60 are sexually active, and 54 percent say sex is important to their quality of life. For as long as humans have engaged in sexual activity, there have been sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The term STDs has replaced the older “venereal disease,” which generally refers to infections transmitted vaginally, anally, or orally. This includes infections like genital herpes, human papillomavirus, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The issues for seniors and a greater risk for developing STDs lies in the fact that they’re not being as safe as the younger, more sexually-educated adults, and it’s become an epidemic that needs to be confronted.
Why it’s Worse for Seniors
Dr. Khady Diouf, a reproductive infectious disease specialist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital agrees with the concern saying, "Although we don't think of them that way, older adults appear to be at increasing risk for STDs.” Dr. Diouf also points to several possible reasons for the increase in STDs among older adults. For example:
-They often don't get STD screening and treatment because both they and their doctors are often reluctant to raise the issue.
-Their immune systems lose some ability to fight off disease with age, which may make it harder to fight an infection.
-They may start dating more than one partner after divorce or the death of a partner, raising their risk for infection after a long period of monogamy.
-Compared with previous generations, they have an easier time having sex at an older age, thanks to the availability of medications such as sildenafil (Viagra).
-They are not accustomed to thinking of themselves or a partner as being at high risk for STDs.
-They may not be accustomed to using a condom or don't use one because they think they or their partners are not at risk for STDs.
-They may not consider oral or anal sex as a way of contracting or transmitting STDs.
Rising Risks
Many seniors, who are at risk for developing or spreading STDs, are often not sexually active anymore. Many times seniors get STDs and go on throughout life untreated, and the long-term neurological side effects of diseases such as syphilis and HIV mirror the same signs of aging. According to CDC, older people are more likely than younger people to have late-stage HIV infections at the time of diagnoses, putting their already compromised immune systems at greater risk for complications. The CDC also considers the concern of stigma for older adults and STDs— many seniors face social isolation due to the loss of a family member or new living conditions in assisted care facilities. Stigma can negatively affect a senior’s quality of life while making it harder to communicate certain health concerns, especially life-threatening diseases.
A portion of the problem is brought to light by the new CDC guidelines, which recommend that health care providers screen all patients between the ages of 13 and 64 for HIV as part of their regular physicals. However, sex among senior citizens who are 64 and older is at an all time high. When there's no requirement to include an HIV screening in physicals for those who are older than 64, an elderly citizen may not find out that he or she has an STD until later when it may be too late.
Men and women have very different health complications when it comes to STDs. For women, untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause painful pelvic inflammatory disease, which may require treatment with IV medications and hospital admission. In men, these diseases often show up as painful urination. It can also make men more likely to transmit HIV to sexual partners. Catching STDs early is difficult because they usually don’t show symptoms until much later down the line. Gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia can all be all be treated with antibiotics if caught early, so it’s important for seniors to continue their yearly physicals especially if they’re sexually active.
How to Help
The best thing you can do as a caregiver or for a family member in an assisted living is to open up the conversation about safer sex. As uncomfortable as it may be for some, having the ability to discuss the risks involved for sexual activity can have way more benefits than consequences, especially for seniors at their venerable age. Don’t be afraid to inquire about the senior’s dating history. If you do bring it up, try to phrase it in way that’s easier and more casual to chat about, for example—“Have you met anyone interesting recently?” or “Anyone catching your eye around here?” This could allow you more insight into their life, and help you decide if they need to be screened more regularly for STDs.
Another resource you could utilize as a caregiver is to contact the healthcare provider of the sexually active senior. Call the doctor and make an appointment for them. Ask the doctor bring up practicing safe sex and the risks involved for their age group. This may be more comfortable for most people, and it allows the senior to ask any question they want to while getting the most recent and accurate information.
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