Sexually transmissible infections and characteristics of men aged 60 years and over attending a public sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in South Australia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: With society ageing, sexually transmissible infections (STIs) in the older population are of interest from an economic, health-related and social burden perspective. Few studies on STIs in men older than 60 years of age exist. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed looking at characteristics of, and STIs in, 29 106 men (of which 689 were older than 60 years of age), at first presentation, visiting the only South Australian public sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic over a 13-year period. RESULTS: Older men [men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW)] were less likely than younger men to have been tested for HIV. CONCLUSION: There is a need for increased HIV testing in older men.