STD cases rose 5% from 2020 to 2023, with biggest jumps among older adults, data show

Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

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Mid-Missouri
I am surprised at this data, but it makes sense.

A new Fair Health study shows that sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnoses in the United States climbed 4.8% from 2020 to 2023, with a 23.8% surge in people aged 65 and older.

Fair Health researchers analyzed data from the nonprofit's repository of more than 47 billion commercial health insurance claims over the 3-year period. The results, released as an infographic, also describe a rise of 16.2% among Americans aged 55 to 64, 8.6% among 35- to 44-year-olds, 7.6% for those aged 45 to 54, and decreases of 6.6% for 19- to 24-year-olds and 3.8% for the 18-and-younger group.

Syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, and HPV​

The fastest-growing STD diagnoses were syphilis (29.4%), gonorrhea (16.8%), and HIV/AIDS (14.1%). Among people aged 65 and older and 55 to 64, the largest increases (32.2% and 21.9%, respectively) were for human papillomavirus (HPV). Diagnoses of HPV also rose for those 45 to 54 (11.3%) and 35 to 44 (3.6%) but declined for those aged 19 to 24 (18.2%) and 25 to 34 (0.9%).

Syphilis diagnoses rose among both sexes (22.9% among males and 46.5% among females).
Click to expand...
Diagnoses of gonorrhea grew 59.2% among male patients and fell 19.3% among females. Syphilis diagnoses rose among both sexes (22.9% among males and 46.5% among females).

"It is central to Fair Health’s mission to use our vast repository of claims data to provide data on public health concerns and support research by others," Robin Gelburd, JD, Fair Health president, said in a news release from the New York-based organization. "We hope this information brings greater clarity to the incidence of STDs."
STD cases rose 5% from 2020 to 2023, with biggest jumps among older adults, data show.
 

Unsurprising.

When birth control is no longer a motivator, condom use drops off dramatically.

Then there are the numerous senior-centric communities, including sprawling "The Villages" type 55+ neighborhoods, Assisted Living Facilities and even Skilled Nursing Facilities. These provide more abundant hook-up opportunities than days past when elders lived with younger family members or were scattered within ordinary neighborhoods.
 
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Instead of focusing on age, ethnic differences are far more telling. I love how Asian ethnicities and Vermont are so low.

Also rates vary greatly by state with southern states higher, that have more large military bases and with that ignored local region prostitution. Well North Dakota too due to oil drilling workers. California would obviously have even lower rates than middling were it not for higher numbers of non binary gender relationships and poor unattached male illegals.

https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/tables/2022-STI-Surveillance-State-Ranking-Tables.pdf
 

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I've read similar before - that the highest rise in STD cases is in older age group. Not the highest actual incidence but the highest rise per age group.

A view possible reasons have been suggested ....

More older people single or single again who are starting new relationships.
Safe sex messages are aimed at younger people
Younger people engage with Dr's for things like contraception, pap smears which lead into safe sex discussions. Dr presentations for blood pressure meds, arthritis etc not so much ( although you would think ****** and co scripts would)
Less condom use because no fear of pregnancy and also embarrassment about buying them ( although availability in supermarkets and self serve checkouts would help with that)
 
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