STDs on the Rise Among Older Americans
By: Gretchen Bolander
Updated: August 9, 2012
JOPLIN, MO-- "As far as CDC stats from 20005 - 09, during that window there was about a 43% increase in cases of chlamydia and syphilis among those 55 years old and older." And Freeman Obstetrician Tyrone Adcock says that means some older patients need to make sure they are being tested.
"It's important to keep in mind that just because someone is older, maybe they've seen programming or read something about pap smears not being necessary, the pap smear becomes necessary and routine checkups become even more necessary when there's a change in sexual partners, when there are new exposures either through an existing partner or someone new in their life."
In some cases, older patients may even be at a higher risk. "And there are certain features in the post menopausal female that actually increase their risk for developing STDs. The tissues of the vagina are thinner, some of those lubricants, barriers aren't there. There can be more breaks in the skin, there can be higher transmission rate of the STDs than maybe an earlier point of the life."
