A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a small decline in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2023 across the United States compared to 2022. Yet, rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia among adults 55 and older more than doubled in the U.S. between 2013 and 2023.
Experts attribute this rise to increased sexual activity among older adults, a lack of adequate screening from health care providers, older adults’ discomfort discussing safer sex with their partners, and, notably, a lack of education about STIs in older adults.
Read on to learn what STIs are and how you can reduce your risk of contracting and spreading them at any age.
What are STIs, and who is at risk of getting one?
STIs—sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases or STDs—are infections that anyone can contract through sexual activity involving the mouth, genitals, or anus. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Anyone of any age or gender who has sexual contact with others is at risk of contracting an STI.
What are common STI symptoms?
There are many different types of STIs that cause a variety of symptoms. Some STIs may not cause any symptoms at first, but they are still contagious.
Some common STI symptoms may include:
- Bumps, sores, or warts on or near the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus
- Swelling, pain, or itching on or near genitals
- Painful or frequent urination
- Genital discharge, bleeding, or odor
STIs can also cause symptoms throughout the body, which may include:
- Skin rashes
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Flu-like symptoms, including body aches, fever, and chills
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
If left untreated or unmanaged, some STIs can cause long-term and even deadly complications.
For example, syphilis is a bacterial STI that can damage the heart and other organs, nervous system, and joints if it is not promptly treated with antibiotics. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), an STI that infects and destroys immune cells, requires lifelong management to prevent the illness from progressing to AIDS, which can cause severe illness and death.
Other STIs may cause complications like chronic pain in the pelvis or testicles and organ damage and may increase the risk of getting HIV or cancer.
How can I reduce my risk of contracting and spreading STIs?
Use safer sex barriers
Condoms aren’t just to prevent pregnancy. Anyone can use safer sex barriers like condoms to reduce their risk of contracting and spreading STIs.
Condoms may be available for free at your health care provider’s office or local health center. They are also available for purchase at most pharmacies and some grocery stores.
You can use safer sex barriers during any form of sexual contact—including oral sex—to prevent skin-to-skin contact as well as contact with bodily fluids.
For safer oral sex on people with vulvas, you can use a dental dam, a thin sheet of latex or polyurethane that prevents direct oral-genital contact. They also provide protection during oral-anus contact.
You can also make a dental dam by cutting a condom into a sheet. Dental dams may be available for free at your health care provider’s office or local health center. You can purchase dental dams online and at some pharmacies.
Other products, like single-use latex underwear, are also available for purchase online. Lorals for Protection are the only FDA-cleared latex underwear for safer sex. Although they are only available in one size, they can stretch to accommodate people with 26-inch to 51-inch hips.
Ask your sexual partners if they are allergic to latex before using latex safer sex barriers.
Get tested regularly
You can ask to get tested for STIs at your regular checkup with your primary care provider or at a health clinic, even if you don’t have symptoms. Most STI tests consist of a urine sample or a blood test, but some may require a swab of your mouth, genitals, or anus. Talk to your health care provider about which STI tests you need.
If your health care provider is unwilling to discuss your STI risk or test you for STIs, find another provider or visit a clinic that offers STI testing like Planned Parenthood. You can also test yourself for some STIs by purchasing at-home STI tests at a pharmacy or getting at-home tests at your local health center. If your at-home test result is positive, follow up with a health care provider.
Remember that it can take days or even months for some STIs to show up on a test, so even if your tests are negative, retesting is recommended whether or not you have new sexual partners.
Talk to your doctor about PrEP
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily medication that can reduce your risk of contracting HIV by 99 percent, and it’s considered safe for most older adults. Talk to your health care provider about your HIV risk and any other health conditions you may have to decide whether PrEP is right for you.
Use lubricant
Lubricant reduces friction during sex, which prevents condoms from breaking and lowers the risk of tears and abrasions that can make you more vulnerable to STIs. It also makes sex more comfortable for everyone, including older adults who may experience vaginal dryness. Always use lubricant during anal penetration, as the anus and rectum do not self-lubricate.
You can purchase water-based or silicone-based lubricant at most pharmacies. Do not use oil, lotion, or oil-based lubricant with latex safer sex barriers, since oil can degrade latex.
Talk to your partners about their sexual health
Before engaging in any sexual activity with a new partner, share what you know about your own sexual health and how you’re treating any chronic sexual health conditions. Then ask if they have recently been tested for STIs, if they have any chronic STIs, and, if so, how they’re managing them.
If a partner discloses that they have a chronic STI, it doesn’t mean that they are “promiscuous” or irresponsible. Remember: Anyone who has sex is at risk of contracting an STI, and when chronic conditions are properly managed with medication and safer sex practices, the risk of passing it to a partner is low.
People with HIV who regularly take antiretroviral medication can reach an undetectable viral load level, meaning there is effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to others. While people with herpes should avoid sex when you’re having symptoms and consistently use barriers, they can take antiviral medication that prevents outbreaks and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus.
If your potential sexual partner has never been tested for STIs, ask them to get tested, or suggest getting tested together so you can both be proactive about your health.
Does sex have any health benefits for older adults?
Yes. In addition to reducing stress and building closer connections with others, research shows that sex has a number of physical health benefits that may be particularly important for older adults, such as improved immune function, heart health, and pelvic floor strength.
For more information, talk to your health care provider.