Sponsored by
Age is no barrier to sexual disease?
Nurse Sarah Ward-Jones talks to a patient. Photo: Alan Storer/Peterborough ET
It is not the most romantic of topics for Valentine’s Day but sexual diseases are present in Peterborough. And while the overall numbers are dropping for most age groups, the over-45s are bucking the trend.
Deputy features editor John Baker visited Peterborough City Hospital’s sexual health clinic and spoke to 52-year-old Mike, who had a lucky escape:
OF all the places to be seen by friends or loved ones when seeking medical advice, sexual health clinics are surely the most embarrassing.
Gonhorrhoea, herpes, chlamydia – even the words sound ugly and awkward, a remnant of a regretful evening, an unfortunate encounter, or a life of recklessness.
Most sexually active people know the tightrope they are walking when they get intimately acquainted with someone new without taking necessary precautions.
But despite media campaigns, sexually transmitted infections still remain real and alive, especially in the age group that may feel most distraught – the over 45s.
The latest figures (see panel) show an overall rise among this age group in the incidence of pubic warts, chlamydia and syphilis over the past five years (where results were available), both nationwide and in East Anglia, compared to a general drop for other age groups.
Staff at Peterborough City Hospital’s sexual health department have dealt with several dismayed people in their 70s and at least one gentlemen in his 80s since the facility opened in December 2010.
Conversely, they have also tended to children as young as 12.
Most have referred themselves for the confidential service, while others have taken the plunge after consulting their GP.
In the case of diseases which require blood tests, such as HIV, samples are sent off to a laboratory, but many others can be dealt with on-site, after examination by microscopy to identify the offending bacteria.
There is a minor surgery room where operations such as the freezing and removal of warts can take place, and there is space for counselling for those who are struggling to cope with a diagnosis.
The clinic meets the Department of Health’s target for offering an appointment within 48 hours, and patients are seen in one of 10 consulting rooms – five for men and five for women on either side of the clinic.
Experts believe there are several reasons why the number of middle-aged people contracting sexually transmitted diseases is increasing.
Health adviser Lorraine Bishop said: “Most of the literature we have is geared towards young people and we are trying to get the message across to the over 45s. Watch TV – all the adverts are aimed at young people.
“There are many reasons why diseases are going up for that age group.
“It might be that they are living longer and there are increasing numbers. It may be down to an increasing number of marriage break-ups, and travelling is also easier nowadays, so people have more freedom.
“Some people don’t have any issue about coming to us but a lot of the older ladies are very embarrassed by coming to what they see as a VD clinic.
“When they were young they had very little sexual education, compared to today’s schools. It was something to be frowned upon.”
The team has seen some patients in their 70s, and at least one man in his early 80s, who visits once or twice a year.
At the other end of the spectrum, 12 and 13-year-olds sometimes appear.
They usually attend with their parents or – tellingly – a carer, as sexually active youngsters of that age are less likely to have grown up in a stable family environment.
At the age of 14 and over they tend to visit on their own, picking up a few of the free condoms on exit, even if they are not always used.
Lorraine said: “Older people may have got out of the habit of using condoms, while younger people say ‘I don’t like them’. My advice is ‘get used to them’.
“I’m not sure the message is always getting across in schools, and I don’t think they are always working with the information very well.
“It’s not that the messages are ad-hoc, but it may be that there are too many different groups going on.”
Receptionist Alison Zimbler added: “We had a lad once who was shocked that he had a disease, saying ‘she was nice and really pretty’. He thought that if they looked clean you couldn’t catch anything.”
All visits are confidential – a situation made secure through the use of a stand- alone computer system and unique identification number for every patient, which is attached – without their name – to any specimens that leave the clinic.
Consultant Dr Sate Ariyanayagam said: “Often a GP might know you a bit better; your parents might know the doctor, and you might know the staff, so a sexually transmitted disease might be a source of embarrassment.
“We are not like that. We might come to know them afterwards, and sometimes we might be stern in the tone of our voice, but we are always with them if they need us.
“Some people are reckless with their sexual health but it is like crime – sometimes there is no point incarcerating them because they will just re-offend when they are released.”
If people suspect there is something wrong they are advised to go to the clinic as soon as possible, although some leave it too late.
As with other illnesses and disease, prevention is easier than cure, and an extensive pharmacy of drugs provides treatment for people at the clinic. But one disease still remains at large – with fatal consequences.
According to the NHS website, around 86,500 people in the UK are living with HIV, and of those, 26 per cent are unaware they have it.
Dr Ariyanayagam said: “There are still a significant number of people with HIV in Peterborough. It is a converging city between the local population and those who have been displaced for whatever reason, possibly through work, and so there is a mix of people here. Patients are now living a normal live with HIV medication, and to some extent that helps to carry it.
“So although the explosion that was predicted in the 80s and early 90s has not happened, the infection pool is still there, and people still get infected by it.”
- If you are concerned about your sexual health, telephone 01733 673278 for an appointment between 8.30 and 5pm, Monday to Friday. It is not open at weekends or bank holidays.
- Contraception and sexual health services are also available in Rivergate Primary Care Centre, Viersen Platz (01733 317888).
A lucky escape
PETERBOROUGH man ‘Mike’, aged 52, is divorced with two sons aged 26 and 24.
He became sexually active when he became single, taking some risks which endangered his health. Here is his story:
“After 30 years of marriage my wife and I divorced in early 2011. As a singleton I was not a very outgoing person, but I was getting increasingly lonely. After months of feeling miserable, I eventually took the advice of a mate who suggested I should try a dating website.
“As soon as I logged on and set up my profile I could clearly see I had entered a world that held some hope! I was both amazed and shocked at the number of single ladies of a similar age to me who were quite happy to meet up. And as I plucked up the courage to meet a few women I was taken by surprise to find that a large proportion were keen to hop into bed without knowing much – or even caring much – about me.
“In fact, it would be fair to say that of the ladies I met, a surprisingly high number were not really looking for ‘Mr Right’, more so ‘Mr I’ll-Give-You-A-Good-Time-Tonight’ instead.
“I will admit I did take advantage of this new-found sexual freedom. I had a few months of ‘craziness’ where I slept with five different women and did not always use protection.
“I got carried along with the moment and the ladies in question were not always worried that we did not use a condom.
“I suppose at our age the risk of pregnancy is far less, so the fear that would have driven us to use protection in our youth was no longer an issue. However, it did not dawn on me until months later that my behaviour could put me at risk of catching a sexual disease, worse still, spreading it.
“I could not stop thinking about it – especially as I had now met a lady who I would dearly love to settle down with. I could not embark on a proper relationship with her until I knew I was not carrying some sort of an infection. I had no symptoms, but I realised that this means nothing, as some diseases don’t always give you symptoms straight away.
“So I plucked up the courage to call the Department of Sexual Health at Peterborough City Hospital. I got an appointment for the next day and was seen as soon almost as I went in. I was hoping I would not see anyone I knew in the waiting room!
“The staff were friendly and gave me lots of advice. I did wonder what they thought of a chap of my age turning up for tests. However they quickly put me at my ease. I was extremely relieved to get the all-clear just a few days later.
“It was a huge weight off my mind. It was also a lesson learned. No more reckless behaviour. I am old enough to know better!”
STI numbers – East Anglia
-- Numbers unavailable for Peterborough alone and for 2011
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which can damage a woman’s reproductive organs. Even though symptoms of chlamydia are usually mild or absent, serious complications that cause irreversible damage, including infertility, can occur ‘silently’ before a woman ever recognizes a problem. Chlamydia can also cause discharge from the penis of an infected man.
Chlamydia 2006 2010
Under 15: 19 13
15-19: 2,175 1,713
20-24: 3,353 2,938
25-34: 2,059 1,934
35-44: 495 485
45+: 143 236
Gonorrhea (also colloquially known as the clap)
The usual symptoms in men are burning with urination and penile discharge. Half of infected women have no symptoms or have vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. In both sexes, if gonorrhea is left untreated it may spread locally causing epididymitis or pelvic inflammatory disease or throughout the body, affecting joints and heart valves.
The incubation period is two to 30 days, with most symptoms occurring between four to six days after being infected.
Gonorrhoea 2006 2010
Under 15: 5 2
15-19: 168 182
20-24: 263 266
25-34: 229 195
35-44: 103 109
45+: 66 86
GENITAL WARTS
Genital warts can look like small, flesh-coloured, pink, or red growths. The warts may look similar to the small parts of a cauliflower or they may be very tiny and difficult to see. They often appear in clusters of three or four, and may grow and spread rapidly. They usually are not painful, although they may cause mild pain, bleeding, and itching.
Warts 2006 2010
Under 15: 8 12
15-19: 1,327 1,282
25-34: 1,875 1,982
45+: 450 547
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
feduppete
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 01:06 PMUrgh!!! All that sloshing around with a stranger you had just met. No thanks. Not for me.
mrblackbird
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:32 PMBy the way, isn't an STD something to do with phone calls? Maybe a lot of people are misunderstanding what they are being asked.
mrblackbird
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 04:31 PMI am over 45 and can fully understand why STDs are going up in my age group. Telly is rubbish these days. Spending evenings indulging in promiscuity is a much more engaging prospect. The only think that stops me is that hardly any women fancy me.
Paul Gasol
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 01:44 AMYou can receive treatment for an STD at Your Regular Medical Practitioner, Local Health Departments, or Public Hospitals. Not sure where you live. but if you want, you can find a near one on the largest and most trusted HIV dating and support community herpesdateonline,c o m .. they list hundreds of STD care locations.
doggo
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 05:21 PMPerhaps if more people lived in Condom-iniums..........?
Gwendoline Horseradish
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 03:12 PMPoxy article. What a load of old clap trap.
Joff
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:53 PMHappy Valentine's Day folks!
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.