Sexually transmitted infections among older people doubles in a decade

By Jayne Warren - 27/06/2008

Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have doubled among the over 45s in less than a decade, according to research published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. They say that part of the reason lies in the liberal sexual attitudes of their youth.

The research, which spanned 1996-2003, recorded 4445 STI episodes among men and women aged 45 and older during that time - primarily in heterosexuals. Interestingly, whilst the number of infections identified in younger age groups rose by 97% during the period of the study, those identified in the over 45s rose by massive 127%.

The most commonly diagnosed infection was genital warts, accounting for almost half (45%), with herpes the next most common, accounting for almost one in five (19%). And men and those aged between 55 and 59 were significantly more likely to have an STI than anyone else. Among women, rates were highest among those aged 45 to 54, and among men those aged 55 to 60 and over.

Overall, cases of chlamydia, herpes, warts, gonorrhoea and syphilis all rose sharply, and the cumulative rate of infections more than doubled from 16.7 per 100, 000 of the population in 1996 to 36.3 per 100,000 of the population in 2003.

The researchers believe that information and advice aimed at preventing sexually transmitted infections should do more to dispel myths and assumptions about the level of sexual activity among older age groups. They also suspect that older people are more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections as they are less likely to use condoms than younger people.

They also mention that the liberal sexual attitudes fostered when this section of the population were in their teens and twenties has stayed with them into older age - and that the problem is likely to get worse.