Dr C’s check up: “Age is no barrier to catching an STI”

From chlamydia to genital warts, over-45s are catching more sexually-transmitted illnesses than ever before. Dr C urges caution

I’m not surprised STI diagnoses have gone up among middleaged and older adults, but it’s proof we need better sex education.

KNOW THE RISKS

Many people think, “It won’t happen to me”. A lot of information around STIs is aimed at younger people, which could play into that assumption. STIs don’t care about age, gender, or sexuality – anyone can get anything. Statistically, younger people are more likely to get an STI. This is simply because they are more likely to be having sex with different people, as they might not be in a longer partnership. However, older people get divorced or go through a break-up, and then also sleep with various partners, putting themselves at risk of STIs. In addition, as people get beyond their thirties, thoughts are more focused on pregnancy, not infections. Either they don’t want to get pregnant, so they use the pill but not condoms, or they think they’re not likely to get pregnant, so don’t use any protection at all.

FIND BETTER CONDOMS

Lots of couples struggle with condoms. If you were married for years and never used them, but as a newly-divorced person you need to, you might dislike them. People can see them as a passion killer, or find them fiddly to put on, so simply don’t bother. However, lots of companies make them in different sizes or in different materials, so if you’re finding using condoms difficult, it’s worth looking into other options to try.

If you are in a monogamous relationship, it is important you both get tested. If you’re clear, you can have unprotected sex with each other, but do have regular check-ups at the sexual health clinic.

The latest figures show that gonorrhoea has gone up 27 per cent in heterosexual women. Syphilis has risen sharply too, going up by 19 per cent in straight women, but STIs are going up and down in all genders and sexual orientations. No infection favours any one group. Many are symptom-free but look out for pain, discharge and bleeding.

DON’T DELAY

They’re all treatable, but if left untreated, they can have horrible consequences – from infertility to chronic pelvic pain, while gonorrhoea can cause a nasty type of arthritis. An STI is diagnosed every 70 seconds, so practise safe sex.