If you ask most adults today, they’ll say that teens and young adults are more likely to have an STD than anyone else. They also often pin STD statistics on minorities and homosexuals. However, current information shows that the older generation (senior citizens) are getting STDs at faster rates than any other group. This wasn’t always the case, but people are living longer and staying more active. A lot of people are losing their spouses to old age and then getting involved with other widowed people in their age group. Some of these seniors aren’t staying with one partner, and that’s spreading STDs.
They tend not to use condoms because there’s no risk of pregnancy at their advanced ages, so they can transfer disease more easily. They didn’t have the problems with STDs when they were younger, and they don’t think of the risk when they’re older. However, it’s very important to get seniors educated about STDs and the importance of using a condom – even when pregnancy isn’t an issue. Because not all seniors understand the degree of risk that they’re taking on, more needs to be done to explain the issue to them clearly and completely.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any sex education classes for seniors like there are in high schools and middle schools. There should be some online courses for adults to take sex education classes. Seniors are often left to find out the hard way, when they start having problems with their health. Then they end up in the hospital or a doctor’s office and are highly embarrassed to find out that they have a sexually transmitted disease. Because it seems taboo for a lot of older people to talk openly about sex, there isn’t much discussion – but there needs to be, in order to keep older people safe and healthy.
Good Sexual Health is one of the foremost desired ability everyone longs to have and to maintain. An active Sexual life can come with an inherent disadvantage of unwanted conception and eventual pregnancy. There are a number of safe methods to curb Birth Control, such as using Condoms, Cervical Caps and Sterilization, but the most natural method practiced by many women is The Rhythm Method. The Rhythm method of Birth Control is the most ancient and widely practiced method worldwide. It is an entirely safe procedure and good Sexual Health is maintained at all times, since no mechanical barriers or medications are involved in this process. However this method sets limitations of the days on which a woman can be sexually active.
The Rhythm Method refers to the biological ovulation and menstrual cycle or rhythm in the female. This monthly cycle begins with menstrual flow of blood, followed by the safe period until ovulation begins and another safe period after ovulation ends, until the end of the cycle. The Rhythm method prescribes that Sex can be had during the two safe periods, which is three days before and after ovulation. If Sexual Intercourse is had during the ovulation period, a chance of pregnancy is high. During this period however, other forms of protections may be used during a Sexual intercourse. Male sperms can remain active in the vagina for up to three days after the Sexual intercourse, and female eggs are fertile for another three days after ovulation is complete. Therefore the Rhythm method also prescribes that Sexual intercourse be refrained from, three days before and after ovulation.
A mutual consensus by Medical Science states that The Rhythm method is not entirely effective in all females, owing to changing or abnormal menstrual cycles. A Research by a leading Health Institute, suggests that technically a woman is fertile on all days, and therefore The Rhythm method may not be a reliable form of Birth Control. This method relies greatly on menstrual cycles, and most women are known to have irregular periods.
When people think of sexually transmitted diseases they usually think of teenagers and young, college-aged kids. That used to be the biggest demographic when it came to STDs, but now the prevalence of them is rising among older people, too. As people live longer, some of them end up widowed – and still interested in being sexually active. Because they really didn’t have to worry about STDs when they were younger, and they don’t have to worry about pregnancy at their advanced ages, they don’t really think much about condoms. With that being the case, STDs are starting to spread among them – and a lot of them don’t even realize there’s a problem until they start to experience symptoms, by which time they may have spread their STD to other people, who have then passed it on.
Older people need to become more educated about sexual health and the problems that they could face if they aren’t careful. No matter what age bracket they fall into, using a condom is a good idea. If both partners have been tested, are free from disease, and are completely monogamous, then this no longer becomes an issue. Until they get to that point, though, being careful is by far the best choice. Some STDs provide symptoms and you can tell that something’s wrong. Others are silent, but they are still doing damage and can still be passed on to other people.
Many STDs can be cured once you’re aware that you have one. Seeing your doctor and being tested is a good idea, especially if you’ve been having unprotected sex and think that you might be at risk. If you do have an STD, there are treatments for it. If it’s not one that can be cured, there are still medications you can take to help keep it from developing and getting worse. Just be sure you’re honest with any future partners, so they know you have an STD. Then, they’ll have to make the choice whether or not to have sex. There’s always some risk, even when using protection.
A lot of people get together and ‘hook up’ – or have sex without any kind of commitment involved. They might not even know their partner’s last name, true age, or anything else about that person. It’s ‘just for fun’ and doesn’t mean anything. These people are putting themselves at great risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) when they get together with people they know nothing about. They’ll most likely use a condom, but these can break and sometimes they come off, have a hole in them, or have other problems that can compromise their value in that situation. This increases the risk of STDs and pregnancy, and can really leave people scared and upset. You can avoid all of that, though, by only having sex with a partner you know and feel comfortable with.
People sometimes argue that this isn’t as exciting, but there’s nothing exciting about an unwanted pregnancy or an STD. That not only causes a lot of alarm at the time, but can harm your future, too. In the case of STDs, you can have a lot of trouble when you do meet someone that you want to become seriously involved with. Some STDs can be cured, but others cannot. Having one that you’ll deal with for the rest of your life means your future partners will have to deal with that, as well. Some people find that to be a deal-breaker when it comes to dating and having sex with someone they meet and are attracted to.
By holding off on having sex with someone you’ve just met, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor – even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time. You may end up getting to know that person and having a real, lasting relationship. If you don’t, there’s no harm done and you won’t feel like you need to be worried about your present or future health. You’ll also avoid the risk of a pregnancy and the raising of a child with someone you don’t know and aren’t even sure if you like. Knowing your partner is important.
