Over-40s 'now more at risk from STDs than youngsters'

Published on Saturday 14 February 2009 10:19

CASES of sexually transmitted diseases among the over-40s have rocketed in the Lothians over the past decade, health chiefs have revealed.

Those aged between 40 and 50 are now deemed to be more at risk of infection than the youngsters who are traditionally targeted by awareness campaigns.

The increase is being put down to a growing number of people getting divorced as well as a greater number of ways for singles to meet-up.

NHS Lothian said the safe sex messages targeted at those in their teens and 20s may have completely passed the older generation by.

In men over 40, cases of gonorrhoea and chlamydia have risen four-fold since the late 1990s, and three-fold in women, while herpes and genital warts have doubled in both genders.

Dr Gordon Scott, who is the head of the department of Genitourinary Medicine for NHS Lothian, said in the last 25 years he had noticed a significant change in trends.

"All of these diseases are going up in all age groups but most noticeable those aged between 40 and 50," he said.

"Perhaps these days people are more likely not to stay in a loveless marriage, and even those who do get divorced are more likely now to go and meet someone else.

"For many of those people, the sexual health message just wouldn't have applied to them before and they possibly think the kind of people they are meeting wouldn't be the kind to have anything.

"We are actually finding that the younger generation are far more informed about this kind of thing and have less inhibitions talking about it."

Another risk, Dr Scott said, was that for many newly-single over 40s, pregnancy was not a concern and as a result there is less compulsion to wear protection.

"I think education is important," added Dr Scott. "The problem is people think 'it won't happen to me'. I think most people know the risks and know how to prevent them, but we have to make them realise that they could be the ones affected."

Christine Wallace, the programme leader for NHS Lothian's Healthy Respect initiative, focuses more on younger people's sexual health. She said while number in that age bracket were still a concern, the message was beginning to get through.

"We've got some centres set up in schools and community centres and teenagers often come in groups and are quite open about things," she said.

"They know they can come in and not be judged by anyone and just get the advice and service they need."

Links

www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

www.healthy-respect.com