| Many middle-aged and older adults feel they are | | | | fact, there age may actually put them at greater risk |
| somehow immune to sexually transmitted diseases | | | | due to physiological changes such as the gradual |
| just because of there age. However studies show | | | | decline in immune function and the presence of other |
| that an increasing number of older adults are | | | | diseases.Once infected, middle-aged and older adults |
| contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, | | | | often wait a long time before seeking medical advice, |
| herpes, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea at a rate that | | | | increasing the chances of passing on their STD to |
| rivals or sometimes exceeds other age | | | | another partner. Studies have shown that more than |
| groups.According to published statistics from the | | | | 80 percent of adults over 50 are sexually active, while |
| Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2003, newly | | | | 7 percent engaged in risky sex. The assumption about |
| diagnosed cases of Aids in adults between the ages | | | | older women in particular has long been that if they |
| of 45 to 54 was 10,051. This actually exceeds the | | | | are sexually active they are in low-risk monogamous |
| number of newly diagnosed cases of Aids in younger | | | | heterosexual relationships. Reality is that due to |
| adults between the ages of 25 to 34, which was | | | | divorce, death of a spouse or even unhappy marital |
| 9,605. The news for adults between the ages of 35 to | | | | relations, many women are also initiating new sexual |
| 44 is even worse, where a staggering 17,633 newly | | | | relationships and, as pregnancy is not an issue, many |
| diagnosed cases of Aids were recorded in 2003, the | | | | do not use condoms. However, the greatest |
| highest rate of any age group.Statistics on the number | | | | risk-takers among mid-aged and older adults are |
| of cases of herpes by age group are not available, | | | | married males between the ages of 50 and 60.In this |
| however, it is widely accepted that 1 in 5 adults has | | | | current era of mass messages about practicing safer |
| contracted or will contract some form of the herpes | | | | sex, much attention has been focused on the rising |
| virus during there life time. This would include oral | | | | rates of STD's among the young and young adults. |
| herpes (HSv1) and/or genital herpes (HSV2), both of | | | | Middle-aged and older adults have largely been ignored |
| which can be transferred during risky sexual | | | | within the field of sexual health and they are often |
| behavior.Between 1995 and 2003, new cases of | | | | omitted from STD prevention programs altogether. |
| syphilis increased by 275 percent in middle-aged and | | | | However it has become increasingly important to |
| older adults, chlamydia by 175 percent and gonorrhea | | | | include this generation in the discussion because, |
| by 254 percent. Middle-aged and older adults often | | | | contrary to popular belief, the statistic show that |
| contract an STD infection through unprotected | | | | chlamydia, herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea and even |
| heterosexual sex with new partners that are also in | | | | HIV are not uncommon among people aged 45 to |
| their same age group. The risk of contracting an STD | | | | 64.John Trout is an internet research specialist and |
| may even be increase for middle-aged and older | | | | web master of several information related websites |
| adults due to the combination of denial, secrecy and | | | | including: where this article was first published. This |
| their age. When they indulge in risky sexual behavior | | | | informative website is an excellent source for a sound |
| they often do so with the false belief that, at their age, | | | | education about the herpes virus as well as the latest |
| they are at very low risk or even immune to STDs. In | | | | news about treatments and a possible herpes cure. |