A 58-year-old man has problems urinating…a 65-year-old woman has abdominal pain…these may be common scenarios among older people, but many doctors aren’t looking for an increasingly common culprit: sexually transmitted diseases. A 2012 study by British researchers revealed that syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia have increased in 45- to 65-year-olds in the UK, US and Canada, and 20 percent of adults accessing HIV treatment in Britain fall in that age group. Specifically, HIV diagnoses have doubled in people older than 50 between 2000 and 2009. And it shouldn’t be surprising – more than 80 percent of senior citizens are sexually active, the study found. There are myriad reasons for the rise – one of which might be the ease of use of erectile dysfunction medications.

Another study found that those older than 45 used condoms the least of any age group. As we age, the immune system becomes less effective, and older women may be more susceptible to STDs due to less lubrication and thinner vaginal tissue. Unfortunately, there is a lack of awareness in the age group that they are at risk for STDs. Baby boomers came of age sexually when oral contraceptives became available and before AIDS became a worldwide pandemic. Because pregnancy isn’t a worry anymore, couples may forego barrier methods that protect against STDs, like condoms.  However, sexually active seniors should educate themselves or ask their doctors about safe sex – it’s not just for the younger generations anymore. In fact, a good opportunity for seniors to be assessed and educated about STDs would be when seeing the doctor for erectile dysfunction medications and during yearly pap smears. They’re important to treat as well when contracted – even the ones considered nonfatal can lead to life-threatening complications, may interfere with the treatment of other conditions and may increase the risk of contracting other diseases.