They have sex with friends, acquaintances and people they’re casually dating. Many have never been tested for H.I.V. or any other sexually transmitted disease, but they rarely use condoms. Who are they?
The irresponsible scoundrels are not teenagers but 50-something singles, according to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, one of the most comprehensive national sex studies in almost 20 years, carried out at the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University.
It turns out that “friends with benefits” ”” a sexual partner who is “just a friend,” and neither a soulmate nor a romantic interest ”” isn’t just for teenagers and college students anymore, and maybe it never was. Young adults may have given the practice a new name, but it probably started during the ’60s sexual revolution, when the middle-aged Americans of today were young themselves.
“The population over 50 is becoming one of the fastest growing groups living with HIV.”
“HIV/AIDS Growing Rapidly Among Seniors.”
“South Florida’s growing senior population has the highest incidence of HIV among seniors in the nation. National Institutes on Aging statistics show Broward County has 1,956 reported AIDS cases among seniors, representing 13 percent of the county’s total reported cases…”
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The pertinent statistical question here is what percentage of over-50 heterosexuals are HIV infected. As a group, South Florida’s rapidly growing senior population includes South Florida’s rapidly growing senior homosexual population, which therefore skews the sample significantly. That section of the populations more than any other ought to know about HIV since it’s their community which went through the first great wave of the AIDS epidemic of the 80s.
You probably don’t want to know the HPV statistics–and, while it’s not as devastating as AIDS, it can still be deadly in the form of cervical and anal cancers, the latter along the line of what killed Farrah Fawcett. Although it is true that she chose against surgery/colostomy, which probably would have prolonged her life. (For the record, I live in another state and never had anything to do with her medical care; I read this in a Vanity Fair interview with Ryan O’Neal–sad…)
It’s also the age-old problem of, “people can DO it, they just can’t TALK about it”. The act is fine, discussing each other’s sexual histories before the act is NOT fine.
But yet that’s not worth your future health. And people are also well-advised to tell the truth to their partners, and/or get tested for STD’s regularly, even though that is not foolproof.
Not to mention, if Viagra/Cialis etc. can be used for erectile dysfunction due to age or medical problems, it’s not a bad idea to use them, if possible, to promote or facilitate condom use.
Oh, I don’t know #4. What is wrong with monogamy and chastity?
The Baby Boomers were poison then, and they are now. It is their curse upon us that is making marijuana legal, through the medical marijuana scam. Are we NEVERgoing to get rid of their influence? Larry
#6 Ditto!