Being over age 50 does not mean you stop having sex! Many seasoned folks are indulging horizontally without getting suited up (condoms) which is a HUGE mistake. Since so many seniors are not protecting themselves sexually, STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases) like herpes simplex, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis B and trichomoniasis are on the rise for this population. It seems many are so uneducated about the potential dangers of contracting an STD and all they seem to understand is that pregnancy is no longer a threat. Far too many of a certain age even believe that they are not in danger of contracting an STD just because they are older.
Risky sex is dangerous sex!
Growing older doesn’t make people any less susceptible to diseases that spread. In fact, age tends to make people more rather than less susceptible to disease. Here’s an alarming fact, immune systems tend to weaken as people age which makes susceptibility to infection more of a possibility. Plus, there are other aging-related health issues that can complicate matters such as heart disease and diabetes. Making matters worse is the fact that STDs can be asymptomatic for lengthy periods, meaning they often go untreated.
What risky sex boils down to is just bad news all across the board! Firstly, it increases the odds of passing the STD along to another person. Secondly, while the body is busy (quietly and invisibly) fighting an STD, other opportunistic infections can appear and progress. Thirdly, when a senior sees their physician about age-typical aches and pains, an STD test probably won’t be the first or even second test a doctor will check for during the visit.
Older folks should be getting the same basic information as young people, learning about how STDs are transmitted, what their short-and-long-term effects are, and how to prevent it from spreading.
Seniors should also be aware that Medicare does indeed provide free STD screenings with low-cost treatment should results come back positive.
Bottom line is that again, risky sex is dangerous sex! In general, vaginal or anal sex without a condom is the most risky. Saliva (spit) and tears aren’t risky.
Here is a list of sexual activities organized by level of risk to help you and your partner make informed decisions:
High risk
- Anal sex without a condom (penis in the anus)
- Vaginal sex without a condom (penis in the vagina)
Low risk
- Sex with a condom when you use it correctly
- Oral sex, but don’t swallow semen (cum)
- Deep kissing (French kissing or tongue kissing)
- Sharing sex toys that have been cleaned or covered with a new condom between uses
No risk
- Hugging, massage
- Masturbation
- Fantasizing
- Dry kissing
- Phone sex
- Cyber sex
- Using sex toys that you don’t share
- Fully-clothed dry humping
