Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Elderly

Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Elderly

It is to be believed that people over the age of 60 are and should be asexual, but that is not always the case. Sexuality lasts a lifetime, but ageing can cause changes in sexual relationships or cause them to end due to health issues. The fact that many older adults continue to engage in sexual activity raises the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). They are more likely to contract an STI for a variety of reasons. There are also solutions to help combat this issue.

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Sexual Relationships

Today’s divorce rate is higher than ever, and society accepts having more than one sexual partner or constantly dating new people. Divorce usually occurs between the ages of middle and late adulthood. As a result, older adults are looking for dates, particularly online. With the rise in popularity of online dating, more people are meeting online. That means knowing very little about them and their previous sexual relationships. Some older people have lost a husband or wife, and they begin dating again after some time. If these single people do not intend to have a long-term relationship, they are more likely to have multiple partners or multiple throughout their lives. Having multiple sex partners or their partner’s choice raises the risk of contracting an STI. Elderly and older adults may believe they are not at risk of contracting STIs and do not consider it when engaging in multiple partners. I believe that people of all ages believe that contracting an STI occurs between the ages of 20 and 24 and that as you get older, your risk decreases, and you no longer have to worry about it. Engaging in multiple sexual partners increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections of all ages.

Safe Sex Practice

Many older adults over 60 are still sexually active, owing to improved health, longer life expectancies, and access to medications such as Viagra. Because older adults can remain sexually active, they may have multiple partners or a partner for the pleasure of whom they are unaware. It is critical to understand who you are engaging in sexual activities with. Many older adults do not consider STIs when having sex; instead, they consider pregnancy. Since they are at an age where they more than likely will not get pregnant, or their partner has had a vasectomy, or they have had their tubes tied, they do not use protection. It’s possible that when they were younger, they were never taught about safe sex and only thought condoms were used to avoid pregnancy. Older adults who engage in sexual activities may never consider using a condom because they believe there is no risk of pregnancy or contracting any STIs. Participating in sexual activities without protection, such as a condom, can expose both partners to a sexually transmitted disease.

Considering Sexuality

When it comes to the elderly engaging in sexual activities, many people do not want to think about it. It always happens, whether people like it or not, and some people want to ignore it and pretend it doesn’t happen. It is not necessary to discuss sexual activity with friends and family, but it is necessary to discuss it with your doctor. It can be awkward for the patient and the doctor to discuss sexual activity. This situation can result in not being tested for STI and the infection spreading to other partners because they were unaware of what they had. Some doctors may make the mistake of assuming that the elderly are not sexually active and, therefore, do not inquire about it. Failure to consult with your doctor can result in an untreated infection, which can spread. Patients who do not discuss their sexual activities and do not get tested for sexually transmitted diseases put their partners at risk of contracting and spreading them.

Awareness

Contracting and spreading a sexually transmitted infection can have serious consequences for yourself and others. Understanding STIs and how to avoid contracting and spreading them is critical. STI prevention education is essential for all societal populations. All sexual practices need to be addressed, especially in the elderly population, and it needs to be an effective way to reach the group. Health professionals must be involved to educate the public about the risks and prevention of STIs. These professionals must target such populations to effectively disseminate information; it depends on where and how they do so. They must present calmly and professionally, allowing for all questions (Talashek, 1990). Informing communities and individuals can aid in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

Sexual Guidance

Because of the social stigma attached to older adults engaging in sexual activity, many people avoid discussing it openly. It is critical to have an open discussion with anyone sexually active, especially those over 60. Many patients may be concerned about their sexually active information being shared, so they must be reassured that they adhere to patient confidentiality. With sexual counseling, patients can feel comfortable talking about their sex lives and being able to ask questions. This can also lead to the comfort of having an STI tested. Health professionals involved in sexual counseling must be aware of their feelings and proceed slowly and gradually to open up a conversation. Once they are comfortable discussing it, health professionals can begin to discuss the risks involved and how to help prevent them. They can persuade them to have regular sexually active tests without embarrassment. Many patients will ignore the situation and refuse to discuss it. These patients may be spreading or contracting a disease if they are not cautious and do not seek medical attention. Sexual counseling, open discussions, and patient confidentiality can all help to keep sexually transmitted diseases at bay.

Conclusion

Sexually transmitted infections must be taken seriously by all members of our society. They can potentially cause significant harm to your health or the health of others. It is critical to understand how they spread and how to prevent them. The target population is 20-24 years old because they are the most sexually active. Still, older people should also be educated because they are the most likely to not use any protection. Understanding how STIs spread among people over the age of 60 will aid in determining the best method of prevention. Sexual counseling and education about sexually transmitted infections can help reduce the risk of contracting or spreading them.

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References

Joffe, G. P., Foxman, B., Schmidt, A. J., Farris, K. B., Carter, R. J., Neumann, S., … Walters, A. (1992). Multiple partners and partner choice as risk factors for sexually transmitted disease among female college students. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /pubmed/1411843.

Santrock, J. W. (2019). Life-span development (17th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education

Smedley, G. (1991). Addressing Sexuality in the Elderly. Rehabilitation Nursing Journal, 16(1), 9–11. doi 10.1002/j.2048-7940.1991.tb01164.x.

Talashek, Marie L, R.N., EdD., Tichy, Anna M, R.N., PhD., & Epping, H., B.S. (1990). SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN THE ELDERLY ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 16(4), 33-40.

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A review of the scholarly literature will uncover a prevalence of risky sexual behaviors and a high rate of sexually transmitted infections in individuals over 60. For this assignment, it is your responsibility to investigate the phenomenon of increased sexually transmitted infections, and you must provide at least 3 well-researched reasons why the elderly are at an increased risk of contracting an STI than their younger counterparts. Finally, we will provide at least 2 possible solutions to quell this problem.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

• Length: 3-4 pages (not including title page or references page)
• 1-inch margins
• Double spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• Title page
• References page (minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources in addition to course text)