For some, turning 55 marks the pivotal turning point in one’s lifetime. Retirement with its inherent lifestyle changes looms, and people turn inward, examining their innermost thoughts, desires and sensations. Living life to the fullest becomes the goal. Adult communities, which once offered few amenities, now embellish common areas with lavish community fitness centers and well designed sporting arenas for tennis, golfing or swimming enthusiasts. Social interaction with one’s neighbors becomes the norm. Appreciation of the opposite sex is alluring, and with advances modern medicine, erectile dysfunction has become a thing of the past.
Recent studies have shown that sexually active mature adults, especially people with multiple sexual partners, are at high risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. The CDC reports that, between 2005 and 2009 there has been a 43% increase in syphilis and Chlamydia in people 55 years of age or older. According to a recent article in the Sun Sentinel, a South Florida newspaper . . . “a study conducted by sex researchers at Indiana University found that condom use was lowest among sexually active men over 50 years of age in the United States.”
Reduce the risk . . . practice safe sex. The chances of becoming infected with STDs can be greatly reduced by following a few simple guidelines:
- Have yourself tested for STDs before engaging in any sexual activity to make sure you are free of infection;
- Ask your partner if he or she has been tested, and is STD-free, before beginning a sexual relationship;
- Enjoy a monogamous relationship with a partner who is STD-free, and be faithful to each other;
- If a monogamous relationship is not right for you, observe proper precautions when having sex, and use a latex condom correctly, and each and every time you have sex. If you are allergic to latex, polyurethane condoms are a good alternative.
For additional information on STDs, go to:
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