British baby boomers are being urged to practice safe sex
after new figures showed an alarming rise in sexually
transmitted infections among the over-50s.
Health charity FPA (Flamily Planning Association) has
launched a national campaign using fashion adverts from the
1960s and `70s to encourage members of the baby boomer
generation to use condoms, The Independent reports.
The campaign posters bear the phrase: "Remember wearing
this?", next to an image of someone posing in an outfit from
the period, adding: "Then remember to wear this" beside an
image of a condom packet.
Recent figures from the Health Protection Agency show a rise
in people in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s having sex with new
partners over the past 10 years.
That trend has led to an increase in the five main sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) in those age groups.
People aged between 45 and 64 had the biggest rise in
syphilis, herpes, chlamydia and genital warts between 2000
and 2009.
They also had the second biggest rise in gonorrhea cases,
beaten only the the over 65s.
An FPA spokeswoman said people in these age groups commonly
made the mistake of thinking that sexual health issues would
not affect them, so STIs were making a comeback in a new
generation.
"The oldest caller to our helpline was an 82-year-old man
starting a new relationship," she said.
"Some people are coming out of relationships and dating
again. Some have always been single. And many over 50s are
enjoying fantastic sex and finding new love at this point in
their lives."
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