Sex and the Over 50s: Is it Your turn to Have ‘The Talk’?

In the last decade, the number of over-50s living with HIV has sky-rocketed in the UK. In 2002, the infection affected the wellbeing of 3,644 people over the age of 50, and this has risen to 16,549 in 2011. Wellness experts say that this is because, today, over 80% of British, Canadian and American adults between 50 and 90 are sexually active, and, with the fear of pregnancy gone, women are less likely to be concerned about condoms.

According to American clinical psychologist Judy Kuriansky, ‘They just don’t think it can happen to them. [Sexually transmitted infections] really started making news in the ’80s and ’90s. The fears and the warnings didn’t hit their generation.’ Kuriansky suggests that not only is over-50s sexual health at risk because of a generational gap, but also a shortcoming in health services.

If STIs, such as genital herpes and syphilis, go untreated, they can increase the risk of HIV transmission. Though early diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy can dramatically improve and extend the lives of people with HIV, the symptoms can often be mistaken by older patients and their doctors for other conditions associated with ageing, such as weight loss and fatigue.

John O’Doherty, director of The Rainbow Project, a gay, lesbian and transgender rights organisation in Northern Ireland, says that the stigma of STIs has led to fewer cases being diagnosed among older men, as the issue is both cultural and generational, especially concerning older men who have sex with men. He observes, ‘We’re dealing with a community which spent a large part of their adult years being a criminal based on their sexual orientation. The new freedom and openness and visibility of our community has provided a lot more opportunities for relationships and to meet new people, so it does put them at increased risk.’

So what can be done? Doctors at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast are addressing both the problem of late diagnosis and the rise of infection among older men who have sex with men. Dr Carol Emerson, a sexual health consultant at Royal Victoria, says that they run monthly outreach clinics in gay venues because ‘some people find it a step too far to come to a [sexual health] clinic and some people really regard confidentiality as the holy grail; bringing the clinic out has increased testing, increased knowledge and increased diagnoses.’

‘Free condoms and sexual health leaflets would be a really helpful part of any service for older people’, says Steve Myers, Director of Social Work at University of Salford. ‘Websites would also be helpful – there are an awful lot of silver surfers out there. It’s empowering for people to access information themselves.’ He added, ‘Social workers need to talk to everyone about these issues…people don’t like to think about older people being sexual beings but it’s self-fulfilling – if we don’t talk about it then it will remain hidden.’