Private MD News
Home |
News |
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Erectile dysfunction drugs make STD testing necessary for seniors
Updated: 2009-09-22 22:08:35 CST Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
by Brendan Missett
In the age of erectile dysfunction drugs, older men who have lost a spouse have an elevated chance of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), a new study suggests.
Researchers from Harvard University found that since oral Viagra became available in 1998, recently bereaved men over the age of 67 experienced an 83 percent increase in the probability of receiving an STD diagnosis, Health Behavior News Service reports.
The study, which will appear in the November issue of the American Journal of Public Health, examined a sample of 400,000 U.S. couples in which both members were between 67 and 99 years old. After nine years, researchers reviewed data and indicated that men who had been widowed had a 16 percent higher risk of STD infection in the year after their spouses died. STD testing revealed gonorrhea to be the most common infection among this group.
Dr Kristen Smith told the news source, "For men ages 67 and older, the use of medications for erectile dysfunction may contribute to that risk by making sex possible. That said, the lesson applies to all older people with new partners."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2007 there were 515.9 cases of gonorrhea for every 100,000 individuals between 20 and 24-years-old. Meanwhile, there were 2.1 cases among the same population of adults over 65-years-old.

Related Articles from Private MD:
Share on Facebook
Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed: 
News Categories:
Advanced Lipid Treatment I
Allergy Testing
Anemia and RBC disorders
Autoimmune Diseases
Bariatric Lab Testing
Blood and Blood Diseases
Breast
Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers
Celiac Disease Testing
Chlamydia
Coagulation and blood clotting disorders
Colon
Diabetes
DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing
Drug Screening
Environmental Toxin Testing
Female Specific Tests
Gastrointestinal Diseases
General Health
General Wellness
Heart Health and Cholesterol
Herpes
HIV
HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos
Hormones and Metabolism
Infectious Diseases
Infertility Testing-Male
Infertitlity Hormone Testing
Kidney Diseases
Leukemia and WBC disorders
Liver
Liver Diseases
Lyme Disease
Male Specific Tests
Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis
Organ Specific Testing
Ovarian
Prostate
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Thyroid Diseases
Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here
Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click
here to get started or call us toll-free at
1.877.283.7882. Our certified professionals are ready to assist
you.