The Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Older Population

On the generally held assumption that older folks engage in less sexual activity than
younger adults, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), both in terms of incidence and long-term
effects on health, are undoubtedly a serious health issue for young people. Globally, however,
the population is aging and enjoying long, healthy lives that may include sexual activity.
Therefore, it is important to acknowledge that older people’s sexuality and sexual health
requirements are essential aspects of their lives. Older adults are at higher risk because they lack
prompt screening of sexually transmitted diseases, lack sex education, and risks related to
menopause among women. This paper explores why older adults (60+ years) have the highest
risk of STI transmission than middle-aged or younger people and proposes potential solutions.
Reasons the Elderly Are at an Increased Risk of Contracting STIs
Lack of prompt screening of sexually transmitted diseases is one major factor that
increases the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections among the elderly (Relhan et al.,
2021). This is due to the popular belief that people lose interest in sexual activity as they age. As
a result, there is a shortage of screening for sexual diseases in the older population, resulting in
most STIs frequently going undetected and untreated for years. Additionally, the many
misconceptions about sexuality in later life and a lack of attention to safer sex behaviors have
made older people more likely to engage in unhealthy sexual practices, increasing the prevalence
of STIs in this age range (Relhan et al., 2021).
In addition, lack of sex education among the elderly has contributed to an increased risk
of sexually transmitted disease prevalence. Many healthcare providers assume that their old
patients do not indulge in sexual activities; thus, they are not perceived as a high-risk population
needing sexual education (Smith et al., 2020). Moreover, older adults may not believe they are at

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risk for STDs. Acquiring adequate knowledge about sexual activities and preventing sexually
transmitted diseases among people of older age is critical in reducing the risk of sexually
transmitted infections.
Lastly, the declining immune system among the elderly is a leading factor contributing to
the high transmission of sexually transmitted diseases among this population. A compromised
immune system makes older people highly susceptible to infectious diseases (Santrock, 2019).
As people grow older, their immune system weakens, increasing the risk of contracting sexually
transmitted diseases and reducing their ability to fight these and other opportunistic infections.

Possible Solutions

The two possible solutions to this problem include: (1) educating the elderly about safer
sexual activities and the risks they hold and (2) implementing proper screening procedures for
the entire population. In the first approach, the increased risk of contracting STDs can be reduced
by providing sexual education to the older population. Older persons are less likely to practice
safe sex, even though they are more likely to have a poor understanding of STIs and HIV3 than
younger adults. Health providers should increase education about sexual health and risky sexual
behaviors. Older folks must be educated on safe sex practices like using protection during sex
and ways to detect signs and symptoms of various STDs.
The second intervention requires providers to follow proper non-biased screening
procedures, typically geared toward all at-risk populations, including seniors aged 60 and older.
Primary care physicians must screen for STDs among older patients to avoid the effects of
unattended STDs and delayed treatment, which may be fatal due to low immunity in this
population.

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References

Relhan, V., Bansal, A., Hegde, P., & Sahoo, B. (2021). Sexually transmitted infections in the
elderly: A 6-year retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. Indian
Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS, 42(2), 144.
Smith, M. L., Bergeron, C. D., Goltz, H. H., Coffey, T., & Boolani, A. (2020). Sexually
transmitted infection knowledge among older adults: psychometrics and test-retest
reliability. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7),
2462.
Santrock, J. W. (2019). Life-span development (17 th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
Education.