The acting medical officer of health in Chatham-Kent is warning about a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STI) among older adults.
Dr. Shanker Nesathurai told the CK Board of Health on Thursday that STI cases have increased across Ontario in people over 60 years old.
Dr. Nesathurai said gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are three of the most common sexually transmitted diseases across the province.
He said provincewide, gonorrhea cases went from about 60 in 2013 to around 300 in 2022, syphilis cases jumped from around 40 in 2013 to about 220 in 2022, and chlamydia cases increased from approximately 150 in 2013 to about 400 in 2022.
Nesathurai noted public health works diligently to manage sexually transmitted infections in the community in collaboration with community providers, physicians, and nurse practitioners.
"Clearly STIs are most common among adolescents, young adults, and middle aged individuals, but one thing that's not always acknowledged is that sexually transmitted infections also occur in people in their 6th and 7th decades of life," said Nesathurai.
Nesathurai said there are many reasons for the rise in STIs in older adults, including increased testing. However, he believes many of the factors are cultural, such as less use of condoms because the risk of pregnancy at that age is very low.
"Older adults are getting divorced and widowed and they're initiating new sexual relationships, many older adults came of age in the 1960s and 70s when there were different sexual morals, and there are now medications that enhance sexual function, medications like Viagra," he said.
Dr. Nesathurai pointed out many people living in retirement homes and long-term care facilities are sexually active and that sexually transmitted infections remain a public health challenge.
He added that CK Public Health visits long-term care and retirement homes and provides education and testing.