Sexual Health

STIs can spread through any sexual contact including skin to skin, bodily fluids and mucous membranes. Reduce your risks with barrier protection such as dental dams or condoms, which can be cut and used in place of a dental dam.

STIs are on the rise in people over 60. Even if you no longer have to worry about getting pregnant, it’s still important to protect yourself from STIs. Casual sex, new partner, or partner with an STI? Experts recommend using barrier protection such as condoms or dental dams, which will reduce your risks of infection.

HPV – human papillomavirus – a very common STI which can cause cervical cancer, can be passed by anyone. Sexual orientation has little effect on individual HPV risk. Risks increase with the number of sexual partners you have over your lifetime (although it is possible to have HPV even if you’ve had only one partner), and the age that you started having sex.

HPV is transmitted through genital skin to skin contact. If you’ve ever been sexually active with a partner of any gender, you can be affected by cervical cancer — even if you’re in a long-term monogamous relationship, are not currently sexually active or haven’t been active for a long time.

Herpes is a virus that can be transmitted even in long terms relationships. The virus can be transmitted at first contact or even years or decades later, because it can stay dormant for a long time and shed with no symptoms. Although it can’t be cured, if you or your partner are getting outbreaks, speak with your healthcare provider about suppressive treatment which helps prevent your body from expressing and transmitting the virus.

One way to protect yourself and your partner(s) is to make sure that you get tested, for example if you’ve had casual sex or are entering a new relationship. Some STIs are tested through swabs or urine tests, while other through bloodwork. Each STI has a different incubation window, ranging from days to weeks, so check with your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.