Essay Example on Older People at Higher Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Many scientists and researchers focus on researching sexually transmitted infections in young people. However, according to the data collected internationally, older people have the highest infection rates. More aged people remain sexually active even in their fifties and eighty’s. These people engage in dangerous sexual behaviors that have a higher chance of transmitting these infections. Older people who are sexually active are at risk of transmitting syphilis, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, and trichomoniasis. The following are the reason why older people are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections than younger people and the possible solutions to preventing infections.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Older people are unlikely to talk about sexual life than younger people when they visit their physicians. The physicians are not expected to ask them any questions about these activities ( Tuddenham, Page, Chaulk, Lobe, & Ghanem, 2017). Older people don't like using condoms because they do not consider themselves at the risk of contracting STI’s. It is because they do not have the basic education about using condoms as part of their sex life. Young people know how to use condoms when engaging in sexual activities (Boskey,2019). The immune system of older people becomes naturally weak as they age. Therefore, they are at risk of getting infected than young people whose immune system is healthy. Older women are likely to acquire sexually transmitted disease after menopause because the vagina tissues thin; hence the lubrication decreases. The thinning of vagina tissue increases the risk of acquiring STI's unlike in young people whose vagina tissues are thick.

Conclusion

The rise of sexually transmitted infections among older people has caused doctors to find strategies for preventing transmission. Older people should use condoms while engaging in sexual activities (Marrazzo & Cates,2011). Therefore, condoms should be used during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Older people should be enrolled in sex education classes to acquire knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases. Older people should be screened regularly to identify any infections. Screening is important because the physician can recommend vaccines that can be used to treat the infections. In order to prevent the spread of STI's during menopause, older people should abstain from sex or limit the number of sexual partners.

References

Boskey, E. (2019). STDs in the Elderly Community. Retrieved from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/stds-the-elderly-3133189Marrazzo, J. M., & Cates, W. (2011). Interventions to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV infection. Clinical infectious diseases, 53(suppl_3), S64-S78.

Tuddenham, S. A., Page, K. R., Chaulk, P., Lobe, E. B., & Ghanem, K. G. (2017). Patients fifty years and older attending two sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Maryland. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 28(4), 330-344.