Old and sick: Spanish pensioners are massively infected with STIs
According to a report by the Spanish epidemiological Surveillance for the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the country has seen a sharp jump in the number of people infected over the past decade among people aged 60 and older. The number of pensioners who complained to venereologists has tripled. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
The Untamed Elders
"The old guys seem to have just "got rid of it", having got into the taste. Swinger parties, online dating apps, lack of fear of pregnancy and, of course, [medications] are just some of the reasons to consult a venereologist," says Ginger Cabrera Tejada, who specializes in preventive medicine at Hospital Clinica Benidorm. "Statistics on the incidence of STIs in other, younger categories of the population are also growing, but at a slower pace."
In the autonomous region of Andalusia, the number of STIs among the elderly has increased dramatically over the past five years, with Seville leading the growth rate, where the number of cases of syphilis and gonorrhea has increased by 215%. These data became known thanks to the organization "Andalusian Plan for STIs, HIV and AIDS (Paitida)", headed by Javier de la Torre, a local doctor.
"The prevalence of STIs has increased especially among people over the age of 60. Yes, statistics from all over the world show that there is a noticeable increase in this type of disease. But, as a rule, it falls on younger segments of the population," said Dr. De la Toré. — Each of the three main treatable STIs has its own profile: syphilis and gonococcus tend to be more common in men, among young people they are more common in homosexual men, but also in older heterosexuals. As for chlamydia, it affects women more often."
"In the case of Andalusia, there are several factors that have led to a sharp increase in these rates among the elderly, including improved diagnostic plans, but they are the same as in the rest of Spain. Yes, we owe some of the growth in statistics to technological progress, which has made it possible to detect infection where and when previously we could not detect it. But the main reason and fault are still cosmopolitan pathologies developing in society. More and more centers of "non-traditional relations" are opening in the cities. This is especially true for Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Basque Country, Madrid and Andalusia. Our autonomy is not the first and not the last in this "standings". The main metropolitan districts of Andalusia — Seville, Malaga, Granada and the entire coastal area — are places where there is a very high incidence," De la Torre emphasizes.
Without fear of pregnancy
A specialist from Andalusia explains that the use of condoms, the main means of preventing STIs, has decreased in all population groups, but the reasons for this are different. While it is shunned among the younger population, believing that it "spoils the mood," among people over 60, this is because "they are not afraid to get pregnant." The above-mentioned doctor from Benidorm agrees with this, analyzing the behavior of her elderly patients.
Recent research published in Spain shows that 75% of people between the ages of 55 and 65 never or almost never use a condom during sexual intercourse.
Sexual awakening after widowhood or divorce
Jose Diaz, a psychiatrist specializing in couples' sexuality and president of the Spanish Association of Clinical Sexology, told the Spanish press that one of the reasons is "sexual disinhibition" after the age of 60.
"There are many widows and widowers among the elderly, as well as divorced people. And they see it as a second chance and want to make the most of what's left of their lives. They feel freer to enjoy their sexuality," explains the specialist.
In the same vein, De la Torre speaks about the sexual awakening that occurs after a divorce or the death of a partner: "Divorce or widowhood often occur in old age, and this means that older people can start relationships with new partners of their own age. And in some cases, because they don't have the habit of using protective measures, it can contribute to contracting sexually transmitted infections."
A specialist from Benidorm shares this idea of meeting new people after losing a partner of a lifetime. She adds that she has observed several cases of sexual awakening (especially since the age of 45) when people came to her office after attending swinger parties or using dating apps, which eventually led to sexual contact.
The sexologist also talks about the so-called "chemical sex", that is, contact with a partner under the influence of drugs. "In these cases, no protection is used. They just don't give a damn about doctors' recommendations — emotions stifle the instinct of self-preservation. A few years ago, we were very concerned about the spread of HIV among the male homosexual population, but now there is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent infection. They resort to it to protect themselves from contracting AIDS, but they forget that there are many other sexually transmitted diseases," she says.
Muscular and armed
The head of the Andalusian STI control program notes that people have begun to live longer and better, which means that sexual activity is not decreasing.: "Previously, a 60-year-old man looked like a grandfather; now, at 70, you can look 40-50 and be in excellent physical shape."
The study shows that 46% of people aged 60 and over are sexually active, and among people over 85, this percentage reaches twelve.
De la Torre adds that "we have cures for sexual dysfunction," which means that "people can have a much more enjoyable and proper sexuality today."
Lack of sexual education
According to most experts, "lack of education on sexuality and STIs is common at all ages, but this deficiency is more common among the elderly than among young people."
The doctor notes that there are infections such as chlamydia, gonococcus or syphilis, the symptoms of infection of which do not necessarily appear soon after contact. And older people, who have less information about this, stop listening to their body altogether. Gradually, this develops into a feeling of false confidence that "I will never get infected."
Irene Fuertes, coordinator of the Spanish Epidemiology and Health Promotion Group in Dermatology at the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), has a different opinion and does not believe that this is due to a lack of information. "People who are now 60 have experienced the AIDS epidemic in Spain and know how dangerous it is not to use protective equipment. They are probably more informed than the youth of today," she believes.
For his part, the sexologist also adds that "many men and women of this age have never used a condom due to lack of sexual education."
One of the goals of sexologists is to promote sexual health: "This has always been done by talking and trying to avoid problems that arise from uninformed sexuality, such as STIs. The pleasure of sexuality is not limited to orgasm; it also includes words, caresses, and other common moments. Ultimately, it's about creating intimacy through prolonged contact, which may or may not include sexual intercourse. Pleasure is not synonymous with orgasm."
However, she notes that at this age people are usually not ready to expand their knowledge about sexuality.
"Many people think it's an instinct, and they already know how to do it, so they don't look for information on the subject. The people I see in counseling have sexual problems like vaginismus, premature ejaculation, or erectile dysfunction," says Fuertes.
Another aspect that she highlights is that information is key to preventing STIs at this age. "It is necessary to encourage communication without shame and naturalness," the doctor believes.
Lack of knowledge among professionals
Javier De la Torre explains that there is a problem in the healthcare system: "professionals don't think about it when they have an elderly person in front of them."
He emphasizes that doctors are "excellent," but there is little information on the topic, and that "they tend not to address issues of sexuality in the elderly, which limits prevention." They are trying to reverse this situation in Andalusia by organizing training courses on this topic.
Fuertes agrees: "Perhaps we, healthcare professionals, do not provide this level of care and do not consider it important to remind people over the age of 60 about the need to undergo an examination if they have new partners. We assume that they are already adults and responsible. Perhaps people who behave riskily are ignored simply because they are viewed differently, and we need to change that."
Spanish doctors are sounding the alarm. And Spanish sociologists suggest consoling themselves with the thought that the entire United States is ahead of the planet in this regard. The incidence of gonorrhea among people over 55 has increased by about 600% since 2010, chlamydia has quadrupled, and syphilis has increased by almost 700%.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
