Over the last decade, the spread of sexually transmitted disease among older

adults has doubled. In spite of this alarming increase, the medical community
has remained silent, continuing to direct its message of safe sex to younger
sexually active adults. Such a muted response in the face of a dangerous trend
is cause for concern, but only a few are waking to sound the alarm for a
sexually active at-risk population of older adults.
Myth would lead many to believe that older adults retire from their sexuality,
even as they retire from lifelong careers. It remains a celebrated fact that older
adults continue to crave and enjoy physical and sexual intimacy well-beyond
their child-bearing years. Divorce or the death of a spouse often thrust mature
adults into the dating scene, after many years of devoted sexual exclusivity,
and many retire to communal style living. The desire for companionship and
the close proximity of other mature adults sets the stage for romance that
blooms with sexual intimacy as any other romance might. Yet, todays older
adults have not been armed with the arsenal of literature, public service
messages, and sex education as their much younger sexually-active
counterparts. In short, many older adults are sexually active in a world of
foreign diseases where the protocol of dating has changed dramatically since
their youth.
Without fail, the medical community and concerned activist groups have
assailed communities nationwide and worldwide with admonishments against
the dangers of various substances, diseases and lifestyle choices. From antismoking rhetoric to AIDs awareness and the campaign against drugs, weve all
been roused to vigilance. Shouldnt the older community be awakened as well,
or will medical negligence and permissiveness allow their continual slumber in
beds of ignorance and naivety? Is it awkwardness, deeply ingrained reverence
for our elders, or myths about seniors and sex that prohibit honesty and
action? Even doctors cannot bring themselves to broach this delicate subject
with older adults, and medical screenings of this sort cannot be suggested
without embarrassment and offense. It can only be hoped and assumed that
in time education about STDs will span all socioeconomic classes, ages and
educational levels. HIV/AIDS and its cohorts of sexually transmitted infections
neither discriminate nor give preference, and neither should we.
There was no particular motive for this study of STDs in older adults, but it
was a venture well worth the pursuit. The data was surprising and frightening
to some degree, and fortunately literature was easily accessed, proving there is
a slow but definitive stirring among us in response to this insidious medical
crisis.
This pamphlet represents a small step toward education and

awareness, and its more than feasible that dissemination to sexually active
adults would have impact. While this pamphlet by no means provides the
broad coverage needed to adequately address this issue, it would serve as a
means to whet the appetite for greater understanding and meaningful
discussion. The small photos of STDs were brutally honest and inserted to
evoke discomfort, fear, and even shock and awe. More room was needed to
provide websites, articles and other resources for additional information.