STDs have soared 38% in baby boomer according to new study

December 9, 2016

Latest figures show there were 15,726 reported STIs in the 50 to 70 age group
This was found to be an increase on the 11,366 cases that were recorded in 2010
Dame Sally Davies says the rise may be due to more divorces and casual sex
She has now called for safe sex awareness campaigns for the baby boomers

Sophie Borland Health Editor For The Daily Mail

Published:
11:27 EST, 8 December 2016

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Updated:
12:20 EST, 8 December 2016

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Record numbers of baby boomers are succumbing to sexually transmitted infections, the chief medical officer has warned.

Dame Sally Davies said the rise was partly due to rising divorce rates, casual sex and a belief that condoms were only for the young.

Latest figures show that the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the 50 to 70 age group have soared by 38 per cent in the last three years.

There were 15,726 reported STIs in 2014 – the latest reported data – up from 11,366 in 2010.

Dame Sally Davies said the rise was partly due to rising divorce rates, casual sex and a belief that condoms were only for the young

Dame Sally called for safe sex awareness campaigns to be targeted towards the baby boomer generation as they would not have been taught at school.

She warned that there was a misconception amongst 50 to 70 year olds that condoms were not needed as pregnancy chances were so low.

In a report examining the health of this generation, she also highlighted how they had missed out on sex education lessons at school.

She cited stark figures showing that as many as 14 per cent of men in their early 50s had been with three or more women in the last five years.

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The trend is far lower amongst women – only 4 per cent had three or more sexual partners within this time frame.

She said the surge in STIs was likely due to ‘increasing divorce rates,’ ‘repartnering’ and declining use of condoms with age.

‘The key significance is that Baby Boomers remain sexually active and have under-recognised needs’, she added.

Latest figures show that the number of sexually transmitted infections among the 50 to 70 age group have soared by 38 per cent in the last three years

The most common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, syphilis and genital warts.

Rates for the 50 to 70 age group are at their highest on record although this may partly be due to better detection methods.

But many adults who are infected don’t experience symptoms which is why they are spread so quickly.

Most can be treated with antibiotics although if undiagnosed they may increase the risk of some cancers and cause severe pelvic infections in women.

Overall however Dame Sally said the baby boomers were in ‘fantastic’ health.

Yesterday she urged them to carry on working into retirement and take up volunteering to help stave off future illnesses.

‘Twenty years ago, you were considered well on your way to old age by the time you reached retirement and now that is simply not the case.’ She said.

‘People are living longer and many do not want to slide quietly into retirement.

‘We are seeing more baby boomers continuing to live active lives where they choose to stay in work and remain physically and socially active and this is great for their health. Others are active in their community and socially.’

The most common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, syphilis and genital warts

But she urged them to do more to prevent future illness by cutting back on alcohol, losing weight and exercising.

She highlighted how a quarter of men and a sixth of women in this generation drink daily – leading to 400,000 hospital admissions a year.

Another 38 per cent of women and 30 per cent of men are inactive, meaning they do less than 30 minutes exercise a week.

The term is broadly used to describe anyone born shortly after the Second World War when the birth rate suddenly soared.

Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at Public Health England said: ‘Young adults under 25 have the highest rates of STIs, however, you can get an STI at any age and we recommend that anyone who has sex with a new or casual partner uses condoms consistently and correctly to prevent infection with an STI.’