What’s causing this STD spike? Modern medicine has increased our life spans, meaning that more widows are re-entering the dating world. At the same time, drugs like Viagra and Cialis, which have been on the market for about a decade, make sexual dysfunction a defunct concept. In addition, divorce rates continue to grow, accounting for more seniors having new sexual partners. And finally, the emergence of online dating has been particularly popular with seniors. Single men and women aged 60 and up are the fastest growing demographic in online dating, according to a study by Bowling Green State University.
That said, STDs aren’t just affecting seniors. Caretakers are at risk for contracting STDs through the course of their work functions, and families who support their loved ones are being tasked with picking up hefty medical bills.
While the only guaranteed way to prevent 100 percent of STDs is to abstain from sex, there are steps a person can take to lower their risk of contraction. Using protection, getting tested, and being sure that your partner has been tested and shown to be disease-free are all steps that should be taken. The following is a list of the most common STDs in senior citizens, along with symptoms and courses of treatment if you think you’ve been exposed.
Chlamydia
What Is It?
Chlamydia is a common bacterial STD that affects both men and women. It can be cured easily with antibiotics, but if left untreated, can cause permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive system, making pregnancy difficult or impossible. It can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy, or pregnancy that occurs outside the womb. The vast majority - 80 to 90 percent - of chlamydia sufferers have no symptoms, but those who do report a burning sensation while urinating, inflamed or painful pelvic region, or testicular pain. Symptoms appear one to three weeks after infection.
Is It Serious?
For senior citizens who are past their childbearing years, chlamydia is not very serious. The most dangerous issues for chlamydia sufferers are the damage that the disease can do to a woman’s reproductive tract, and having chlamydia increases your risk for HIV and some other diseases.
What Do I Do?
If you’re concerned that you may have been exposed to chlamydia, ask your doctor to test you --and others -- for the disease. A simple urine test can detect if you have the disease. If you test positive, chlamydia can be treated easily with antibiotics. You should notify your partner or partners that you have tested positive, because they will need to be tested and treated as well, to avoid reinfecting you.
Gonorrhea
What Is It?
Gonorrhea is another common bacterial STD. As with chlamydia, gonorrhea is often asymptomatic, but for those who experience them, the symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating, inflamed or painful pelvic region, and testicular pain. Additionally, anal itching, soreness, or bleeding can all be signs of a gonorrhea infection.
Is It Serious?
Also like chlamydia, most of the dangers of gonorrhea are associated with damage to the reproductive system. However, there is a risk that gonorrhea may spread to the blood or joints, eventually leading to a life-threatening condition.
What Do I Do?
If you have experienced any of the symptoms, or if you have reason to believe you may have been exposed (such as an unprotected encounter with a new sexual partner), you can request a urine screen to find out if you've been infected.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
What Is It?
Most experts agree that almost every sexually active man and woman will contract HPV at some point in their lives, but few will ever know that they have it. HPV is almost always asymptomatic, but those who have been infected may develop genital warts.
Is It Serious?
Studies have linked HPV with an increased risk of cervical cancer, as well as a potential link to some oral cancers, but these developments are rare. Younger women are at greater risk of developing the associated cancers than women who contract HPV over the age of 40.
What Do I Do?
For those under the age of 26, the CDC strongly recommends an HPV vaccine, but for those who are already infected or over the age of 26, the disease typically clears itself from the body within 2 years without treatment.
Syphilis
What Is It?
Another bacterial STD, syphilis will likely manifest itself in a rash on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet, as well as a canker, or painless sore, on or near your genitals, anus or mouth. If left untreated, the rash will spread to the torso, where large gray or white lesions may appear in your groin area or underarms. These symptoms will take between 10 and 90 days to develop.
Is It Serious?
If left untreated, syphilis can cause blindness, mental disability - including dementia - paralysis, or even death. Syphilis is far less common than other STDs, however, and is treated easily with antibiotics.
What Do I Do?
If you believe you have been exposed, or if you suspect that you are developing the early symptoms of syphilis, do not wait. Call your doctor to schedule a visit for bloodworm and to get antibiotics to treat the disease.
Herpes
What Is It?
Herpes can be genital or oral, and while most of those infected experience no symptoms, some patients experience blisters or sores around the genitals, anus or mouth. The first breakout after infection tends to be the most severe, and this and other breakouts can be accompanied by fever, body aches, or swollen glands. The first breakout typically occurs about two weeks after infection.
Is It Serious?
About one in five women is infected with genital herpes, which has been linked to an increased risk of premature births or miscarriages, and having herpes increases your risk of contracting HIV. However, as far as organ damage or risk of death, herpes is far less serious than other diseases listed in this article.
What Do I Do?
There is no cure for herpes, but treatments have been shown to suppress outbreaks and limit your risk of spreading the disease to others. However, it’s important to let your partners know if you have the herpes virus and to use protection.
HIV
What Is It?
Unlike most other STDs, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) often remains dormant for years. Some patients may develop a brief but serious fever and/or flu-like symptoms within weeks of infection. After the virus becomes active, patients develop symptoms such as fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and a drop in muscle and body weight.
Is It Serious?
HIV develops into AutoImmune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, which is diagnosed by T helper cells dropping below a certain threshold, coupled with certain bacterial or opportunistic infections. Because HIV attacks the body's immune system, it can evolve into many life-threatening conditions.
What Do I Do?
You can have a blood test to determine if you have been infected with the HIV virus. While there is still no cure for HIV/AIDS, there are many treatments that are quite effective, and when combined with lifestyle changes that improve general health, patients can live with HIV for decades without severe symptoms or declines in health.