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Home › Relationships

Relationships | 03/04/2009 10:40 am

HIV Infection Surprisingly High Among Those Over 50

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© Shutterstock

People over the age of 50 may think that they don’t have to practice safe sex, but a new study should have them seriously reconsidering.

A World Health Organization report finds an unexpectedly high rate of HIV infection among people over 50, a group that has previously been ignored by researchers or not included in health surveys at all. And since doctors typically are not looking for HIV/AIDS among older patients, it’s possible that many cases aren’t even reported.

According to the report , from 2003 to 2006 the proportion of older HIV-positive individuals in the United States climbed from 20 percent to 25 percent. In addition, using UNAIDS estimates of HIV cases in developing countries, they found that HIV prevalence in people aged 50 and over was between 25 and 33 percent of that among people aged 15 - 49, which the authors said they found surprisingly high.

“Sexual activity of older individuals in the developing world is barely researched,” according to the report, which also suggests that the prevalence of erectile dysfunction drugs could have something to do with the increase in AIDS among the over-50 set. It also suggests the thinning of vaginal walls could play a part in the increase in HIV for both genders. And then, they say, the disease progresses from HIV to AIDs more quickly among older patients. The bottom line: More study is needed. And so are condoms.

Read more about: AIDS, Disease, Health, HIV, News, Over-50, World Health Organization

7 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Belinda Joy
I am not surprised at all by this finding. The internet has long been a wonderful tool for meeting and hooking up with potential lovers and life mates. Unlike going to a bar, with a click of the mouse you can meet hundreds of people. The sad reality is that most of the people who you meet in dating venues aren’t being honest about who they really are. From their weight, age, profession to financial status….it’s all about putting forth an image that will be interesting, more than the true you. And for many of the men and women on some of these sites, hooking up goes beyond coffee and a scone. For many it is about sex. Men and women 50+ who feel sexually liberated and speak in terms of celebrating their freedom, routinely “hook up” with strangers. There are websites that aren’t coy about why the men and women are there, they are there for the specific reason to have sex. Swingers and threesomes. And you rarely hear anyone discuss safe sex, that is considered a non-issue. I am teased all the time about the duality to my personality when it comes to sex. On one hand I am comfortable and free in discussing it in its most graphic of forms. Yet, when it comes to actually having it….well that’s another subject. I have to be in love with the guy, filled with romance and you best believe I will be accompanying him to the clinic to have an HIV test. None of that “I’ll show you a copy of the results” business for me…..Too many people are just nasty these days! :-)
By Belinda Joy on 03/04/2009 11:01 am
Murphy Mac
Belinda, I’m so glad you’re smart and know how to take care of yourself.
By Murphy Mac on 03/04/2009 11:24 am
JJ GB

Belinda,

Wish I had your courage-my solution has been complete abstinence, but if I ever did venture into another relationship after my long-time marriage with an unfaithful husband, I would insist on a health exam, especially for STD’s and I would expect my partner to expect the same.  Just friendship and companionship would be nice, but I doubt I could expect that from a healthy male.

 

By JJ GB on 03/04/2009 12:08 pm
Sarah N.

Not shocked at all.  These numbers have been on the rise for a long time for a few reasons:

1.  The sex education that is so demonized by some crazies in schools is WORKING.  Increases in teen pregnancies are trending downwards and studies have shown by some embarrasing (to the ‘wiser generation’) ratio that kids in younger demographics are far more likely to use protection.

2.  Sex education.  The adults in this country seem to have gone on blissfully oblivious to the facts that times have changed; condoms aren’t just for pregnancy prevention anymore.  The number of adults aware of total STD statistics out there is drastically lower than the information kids are armed with today.  Of course a lot of this is to do with the mindset of the older generation.  Sex was and still is to a certain degree, a taboo topic, and many women within that demographic still (thanks to the hypocrisy of men everywhere that sleep around but insist that women who do the same are ‘sluts’) still are prone to feeling guilty about extramarital sex.

 3.  Throw in the ageism complex/obsession that is going on today (botox, divorce rates then watching their husbands remary 30 year olds etc) you have a lot more sexually active 50 year olds today in unmarried relationships or even non committed ones.

4.  Reporting rate:  when husbands cheated in the 50’s and a woman got an STD it was swept under the rug.  Higher reporting rate=higher rate of incidence.

By Sarah N. on 03/04/2009 12:14 pm
Green Tears

The over 50 crowd may be old enough, but they definitely do not know better!

By Green Tears on 03/04/2009 12:43 pm
Judy K.
I’m way over 50 and still want to meet someone, get to know them and then decide if a relationship is possible.  After everyone stops laughing I realize life is moving at a much faster pace and I’m way out of touch.  But that’s me and I have enough medical problems to worry about then leaping into a sexual affair on a casual basis.  Unfortunately, men in my age group never had to use condoms before and seem insulted by the suggestion.  So stay insulted and I’ll stay as healthy as I can.
By Judy K. on 03/04/2009 1:42 pm
Lizzie R.
STD’s are rampant in retirement communities with the advent of Viagra etc. and sexual acrtivity increasing among the older population there. The men are not used to condoms and refuse to wear them, stating that they don’t have to worry about pregnancy there. Guess they are now learning that, yes, they, too, can now develop STD’s, including HIV at their age.
By Lizzie R. on 03/04/2009 9:06 pm