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HIV does not discriminate on age

There are names for certain generations that have been phrased to differentiate them from those who have gone before and those who have come after. Now we are in the age of the Millennials. This is the generation that will shape the future of the world in the technology age. We have heard of the baby boomers. This is the generation that was born during and especially after World War II. (1946 – 1964) There was a population explosion such that this market sector had been the largest demographic across the globe.

Big marketers used to call this group when shown on a graph ‘the pig in the python.’ This is because when showing the actual numbers of persons in this group as compared to other age demographics there was a huge bulge in the python’s stomach. If you can’t get the image in your brain, here are numbers that should help. In the US, Boomers represent 28% of the population today. Back in 1964, they represented about 40% of the population. Millennials are gaining ground.

So what does all this have to do with HIV and AIDS? Next to the younger group that is 13-24, the boomer group has the highest incidents of new HIV/AIDS cases. This is a group that was very aware of the AIDS epidemic. Are they practicing unsafe sex because they feel the potential for risk has passed them by? These are the very people who know so much about STD’s and safe sex.

Some sociologists have brainstormed to come up with likely reasons – or rationalizing why the number are so high in the 50+ generation. There is a faction who believes they do not know as much about the birds and the bees that we give them credit for. In their dating years they may have depended on condoms to protect against unwanted pregnancy. No clean, upstanding citizen got a ‘venereal disease.’ That was for trashy people. When this group got married, they depended on birth control pills, the rhythm method and coitus interruptus until they were no longer in child bearing years.

Now the 50+ group is seeing a shift in their marital status. Some women have become widows because males generally do not live as long as females. Plus the majority of women married men older than they were. And, there are plenty of divorces. It is now estimated that there are only two men 50+ for every eight women of the same age. The men now can choose the cream of the crop.

Individuals are entering the dating world which has been foreign to them for 30 years or more. Things have changed. Women now call me and ask them out. Women are more assertive. However, sex education and help has not been targeted toward those in their golden years. No one likes to admit that people over 50 have an active sex life. A recent University of Chicago study revealed that 60% of men and 37% of women over 50 have sex at least twice a month. No one likes to think of their older parents having sex. Get over it – it happens.

Baby boomers are what you could call a bridge generation. Their parents and adults in their lives never talked about sex or sexual problems. The new generation can’t wait to have a hook-up at 14. So a new couple dating is not going to discuss safe sex as they would the score of a baseball game. But they are going to have to. The numbers do not lie. By 50 a person’s body has slowed down and it is much easier to get an infection. If an individual has HIV, it makes it doubly hard. Here is a statistic that might make you laugh. Yes, it’s funny but then again it’s sad. Researchers say that since the advance of male enhancement drugs (the little blue pill) an increase in STD and HIV infections have been found in those who live in nursing homes and other types of senior living facilities. Forget the bingo games. It seems like grandma and grandpa have found other interesting endeavors. There is always the likelihood that the man does want to use a large condom, but he is out of practice. He doesn’t want to fumble and spoil an otherwise delightful moment. When he is sitting alone listening to the best of the Yard Birds and Rolling Stones, he should practice by himself. He can get it down to a science and never have to worry about calling his latest lady love and telling her she needs to get checked out at her doctor’s office.

Stuart Brown
Doctor of Sexual Health at the NHS Royal London Hospital & Relationship Expert. Columnist at britishcondoms.uk. An advocate of safe sex. Avid Arsenal fan.

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