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