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PRESS RELEASE
March 27, 2024
You are never too old for an STI – more older adults being diagnosed with STIs such as gonorrhoea and syphilis
European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024, Barcelona, 27-30 April)
– Infectious disease expert addresses how to manage the rise in sexually transmitted infections in older adults. –
– STIs in Americans aged 55 to 64 years have more than doubled over the past decade; in England the
number of over 45s diagnosed with gonorrhoea and syphilis doubled between 2015 and 2019. –
– Availability of sildenafil (Viagra) in late 1990s had an impact on STIs in older men. –
– Sexual health campaigns overlook the needs and experiences of the baby boom generation. –
– Health professionals must be proactive in discussing sexual concerns and making sexual health a routine part of general health care for older adults. –
**Note: the release below is a special early release from the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 27-30 April).
A session to be given at a pre-congress day for this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024, Barcelona, 27-30 April) will look at how to manage the rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in older people, such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, and genital warts. It will focus on the importance of sex, intimacy, and sexual health to the Baby Boomer generation, especially given that 1 in 6 individuals worldwide will be aged 60 and older by 2030. The presentation will be given by Professor Justyna Kowalska from the Medical University of Warsaw, Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Warsaw, Poland—who will highlight the need for conversations around older people and sexual health to be normalised.
Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that rates of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis among US adults aged 55 and older have more than doubled over the past 10 years. For example, rates of gonorrhoea among those aged 55 to 64 years rose from around 15 cases per 100,000 people in 2015 to 57 per 100,000 in 2019 [1]. In England, 31,902 new STIs were recorded in the over 45s in 2015, which rose to 37,692 in 2019 – an increase of 18%, with the majority of new diagnoses in men who have sex with men [2]. High STI prevalence estimates have also been reported more broadly in older adults around the world, including China, Korea, Kenya, and Botswana.
“Rising divorce rates, forgoing condoms as there is no risk of pregnancy, the availability of drugs for sexual dysfunction, the large number of older adults living together in retirement communities, and the increased use of dating apps are likely to have contributed to the growing incidence of STIs in the over 50s”, explains Professor Kowalska. “These data likely underestimate the true extent of the problem as limited access to sexual health services for the over 50s, and trying to avoid the stigma and embarrassment both on the part of older people and healthcare professionals, is leading to this age group not seeking help for STIs.”
Compounding the problem are the many misconceptions around sexuality and sexual activity in older adults, and the importance of sex and intimacy to older people’s happiness and wellbeing. As Professor Kowalska explains, “People do not become asexual with age. In fact, with preventive medicine and improved lifestyles people are enjoying a healthy life and sex life for longer. Older people often find greater satisfaction in their sex lives due to experience and known expectations. We need more role models like Samantha Jones in the TV show Sex and the City to challenge stereotypes around older sexuality.”
Although the frequency of sexual activity tends to decline with age, older adults are still having lots of sex. In a study in England, half of men and almost a third of women aged 70 and over reported being sexually active. Similarly, in a Swedish study, 46% of individuals aged 60 years and older reported being sexually active, as did 10% of those aged 90 years or older [3].
Prof Kowalska will also highlight the lack of evidence for using communication to promote positive behaviours to reduce the spread of STIs in older adults, particularly outside the USA and for infections other than HIV. “Increasing older adults’ knowledge of the risk of STIs and how to engage in safer sex is crucial to tackling record levels of STIs”, says Professor Kowalska. “Tailoring education programmes to the over 50s and including peer support and ensuring they are located within existing community settings is vital to their success.” Ultimately she says, “Older people have a right to good sexual health, so let’s normalise conversations around sex and older people, and change the narrative on ageing.”
Professor Justyna Kowalska, Medical University of Warsaw, Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Warsaw, Poland E) jkowalska@wum.edu.pl
Alternative contact in the ECCMID Press Room: Tony Kirby T) + 44(0)7834 385827 E) tony@tonykirby.com
To view Prof Kowalska’s slides, click here
Notes to editors:
[1] Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2019 (cdc.gov)
[2] Trends and projections in sexually transmitted infections in people aged 45 years and older in England: analysis of national surveillance data - PubMed (nih.gov)
[3] Sexual Health and Well-being Among Older Men and Women in England: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing | Archives of Sexual Behavior (springer.com) / Cross-Sectional Study of Sexual Activity and Satisfaction Among Older Adult's ≥60 Years of Age (nih.gov)
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
This press release is based on a session in the Pre-ECCMID day taking place on March 28 online. The main ECCMID congress takes place in Barcelona, Spain, from 27-30 April.
ECCMID_2024/Scientific_Programme/PreliminaryProgramme_28032024.pdf
X – formerly Twitter: #ECCMID2024 @ESCMID
Tony Kirby
Official Press Agent
33nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
15 - 18 April 2023
www.eccmid.org
Phone: +44 783 438 5827
tony.kirby@tonykirby.com
Source: www.escmid.org
"Reproduced with permission - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)"
European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)
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