Private MD News

Older women lack sexual health knowledge, study finds

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Older women may be unaware of important information about sexual health, according to a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs. This may put them at an increased risk of receiving a positive STD test.

These days, many individuals in their 50s date and are sexually active. However, the University of Florida researchers pointed out that most information resources about STDs are geared toward young people, in particular teens and college students.

After surveying a group of women over age 50, the researchers found many are unprepared to practice safe sex in their relationships. The results showed that many are unwilling to ask new partners to use condoms out of fear of conflict and rejections. Furthermore, many of the participants were reluctant to talk to their doctors about sexual health issues.

These findings led the researchers to conclude that public awareness campaigns are needed to address the growing lack of sexual health knowledge among sexually active older adults. These types of efforts could help many of these individuals avoid receiving positive STD test results.