STI Rates Soar Among Older Adults, Prompting Concern Among Health Experts

Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise among older adults, with rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis more than doubling in the United States over a decade, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The number of syphilis cases among those aged 55 and older increased seven-fold over the same period, with gonorrhea cases rising nearly five-fold and chlamydia cases more than tripling.

A presentation slated for Thursday, as part of a pre-event to the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases next month, highlights a concerning trend where both healthcare providers and older adults are overlooking the risks of STIs in this age group.

“Justyna Kowalska, the presentation’s author and a professor of medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw, emphasized, “We talk about smoking, diet, exercise, so many things, and not about sex at all.”

This issue isn’t confined to the United States. Surveillance data from England published in 2022 indicated a 22% increase in STI diagnoses among those aged 45 and older from 2014 to 2019, with chlamydia being the most common, followed by gonorrhea.

Several factors may be contributing to the surge in STI rates among older adults. People are living longer, leading more active lives into their 60s, 70s, and 80s, including sexually active lifestyles. A 2018 survey by AARP and the University of Michigan revealed that 40% of individuals aged 65 to 80 are sexually active, with nearly two-thirds expressing interest in sex.

Hormone replacement therapy and erectile dysfunction drugs may also be prolonging sexual desire and activity among older adults. However, according to Matthew Lee Smith, an associate professor at the Texas A&M School of Public Health, older adults may lack the comprehensive sex education provided to today’s teenagers, leading to gaps in knowledge about STIs and prevention.

Smith highlighted that doctors may shy away from discussing sexual activity with older patients, and older individuals may be hesitant to broach the topic with peers or family members.

“Some older men may struggle with condom use due to dexterity issues or erectile dysfunction,” Smith said, noting that pregnancy concerns often do not apply in this age group. Nursing homes can also create opportunities for new sexual partners due to imbalanced gender ratios among residents.

Medical experts cautioned that while STIs pose health risks to all age groups, older adults may face greater challenges in clearing infections or be more susceptible to contracting them due to weakened immune systems and physical changes associated with aging.

“We want them to have their best life, but we want them to have it safely,” Smith emphasized.