Health fears as older women seek treatment for STIs

GROWING numbers of women in their 50s and 60s are seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and are less savvy than teenagers about sexual health.

The claim was made by medical director of the Dublin Well Woman centres, Dr Shirley McQuade, who said older age-groups were often "worse educated" than teens when it came to the possibility of contracting STIs.

"The trend over the past two or three years is that, certainly, we are having more dealings with older women who have started a second relationship," she said.

"It is often the case with women who were in a long-term relationship for 20 or 30 years, and then their relationship falls apart and they meet someone else. Now they're in their 50s and suddenly they're discussing STIs."

Dr McQuade said the trend was largely due to a change of lifestyle.

"People don't just stop going out when they get to 50 nowadays. They have second, third and fourth relationships," she said in an interview with the Irish Medical News.

"It isn't just young people picking up these things, infections go across all age groups. I've treated herpes in patients over 50, so we don't presume someone coming in who is over 50 or 60 isn't likely to have an STI. It's a conversation we have very frequently, even in that age group."

Dr McQuade said the STIs most common in older age-groups were the same as in younger people.

"Genital warts, herpes, chlamydia: we've seen them all in the over 50s."

Because these women don't benefit from a school sex education programme, Dr McQuade said healthcare professionals needed to play a role.

"We need to raise awareness among GPs and other primary-care givers that these STIs can occur in older women, so that they don't miss the diagnosis." She said the media had a role to play in highlighting the dangers of sexual promiscuity in all ages.

Dr McQuade referred to women's lack of knowledge about their reproductive organs and menstrual cycle as one of the biggest challenges facing GPs.

Well Woman centres are located at: Lower Liffey Street 01-872 8095/872 8051; Pembroke Road (Ballsbridge) 01-6609860/668 1108; Coolock (Northside) 01-8484511.

Phone lines are open from 9am to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday and from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays.