Divorced, middle-aged women at increased risk of STIs

 

Middle-aged women who have recently gone through a divorce may be in an emotionally vulnerable state that may cause them to let their guard down with new sexual partners. According to an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, this vulnerability mixed with a decreased risk of pregnancy may be responsible for the rise in sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV rates among this population.

These women, even though they may not have a high likelihood of getting pregnant, should be aware that their chances of contracting an STI actually increase as they age. This is because physiological changes due to menopause such as the thinning of the vaginal walls make women more susceptible to infection.

"There is a knowledge gap with women knowing what the physiological changes associated with menopause are," said Christopher Coleman, Ph.D. "There is very little research on this subject and society and the government don't talk about it, but these high risk sexual behaviors need to be addressed because the rate of HIV positive middle aged women is increasing."

This study coincides with recent research that found that STI rates among older Americans have doubled in the past decade. CBS News reports that according to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were almost 900 cases of syphilis in 45 to 64-year-olds in 2000, and in 2010, the number grew to more than 2,500.

Furthermore, the number of HIV infections among people over the age of 50 has doubled in the past decade. Researchers speculated that this rise in STI rates could be due to the increased popularity of drugs that enhance sexual function in the elderly.

These findings suggest that more STI awareness campaigns need to focus on this population. Also, doctors who prescribe erectile dysfunction medications may want to take some time to explain the importance of safer sex to their patients.