Say It Isn’t So: STDs In Seniors Are On The Rise

Ever since the New York Times reported that the CDC found a 32-percent increase in chlamydia among seniors, people have wondered whether going gray involved 50 shades of it. While the numbers are still incredibly small per 100,000, Corinne Menn, DO, a gynecologist in Chappaqua, says medical literature confirms the trend. “People are living longer, healthier lives—and that goes for sex lives, too,” she says. “Newly single seniors, whether divorced or widowed, are entering new relationships. They’re more comfortable seeking medical care for sexual dysfunction, and meds like Viagra and vaginal estrogen allow for satisfying sexual relations. Because they are no longer concerned with pregnancy, they may be less likely to use condoms. Plus, seniors came of age before safe-sex practices, and may not realize they’re at risk for HIV and other STDs. But anyone who is sexually active at any age should speak with a doctor about testing and prevention”