Text produced by Alanna Nascimento, journalism graduate at IDP.

Discussing sex, and everything that concerns sexual life, remains a taboo in society, especially when it comes to sexually active elderly people. This fear of openly discussing the topic, even though it has decreased over the years, is one of the factors that influence the “carelessness” of people over 60 in relation to the use of preventive methods and contributes to the increase in the number of cases. sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and syphilis.

Even though it is considered a prohibited subject at various times, sexologist Kátia Arruda explains that, among the elderly, the topic is treated more naturally than among younger people. “They understand that sexual well-being is part of general well-being. It still doesn’t cover an entire society, but people with access to information.” says the specialist. 

With technological advancement and ease of access to websites, social networks and media in general, discussing and researching this issue more freely has become easier, resulting in the growth of sexual freedom, especially for mature people. 

“Social networks have opened a way to talk, guide and inform about sex. There are more podcasts, sexuality professionals and, mainly, electronic magazines.” says sexologist Kátia Arruda.

For Milton Crenitte, a geriatrician, what causes cases of STIs and HIV to increase among elderly people is the fact that there are no adequate public policies for STI prevention focused on the age group. In 2019, the Ministry of Health launched a prevention campaign aimed at this audience. However, actions like this are scarce in the country, which worries experts, because, for the number of infections among this group to decrease, it is necessary to think about specific campaigns.

“The most important thing is for us to understand the sexual scene, as if it were a theater: who the actor is, what the script is and where this sexual life takes place. Then we can better plan a prevention strategy.” says the geriatrician. 

More features

Sexual freedom in this age group is related to the increase in hormonal therapy products and techniques that are increasingly emerging in the pharmaceutical, erotic and sensual products industry. Consequently, this increases the possibility of being more comfortable in having sexual relations for a prolonged period of time, in addition to helping with individual well-being. 

“The erotic and sensual market industry in Brazil is one of the most modern and every year they launch products, mainly topical stimulants and lubricants, which are not only used for sexual relations”, explains Kátia. This emergence of options for enjoyable sex results in an increase in quality of life, especially for mature women - those over 60 - who understand that sex is not about frequency but about quality. 

The epidemiological bulletin issued by the MS in 2018 shows that the number of cases of HIV infection among this age group has grown by 103% in the last ten years. This shows that, despite all the advances in science and general awareness, resistance against the use of preventive methods still prevails. 

“At the time of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, people who are now 60 years of age or older were generally married and did not use condoms. Many of them may now be separated or widowed, so it is a lack of practice and knowledge that makes them more likely to not use protection.” explains the specialist. 

Risks and Treatment

Despite providing greater freedom to this public, the use of stimulants and medications for erectile dysfunction can cause harm to health if used by people who are not recommended, just like any medication. 

Data on the disease released by the MS show that the gender most affected by the disease in this age group is male, with 12.6% of the percentage of infected people at this age, double the number of women.

Studies on contagion during this age show that the abuse of alcoholic beverages before sexual activity is another factor that contributes to the increase in contamination. Actions during the effect of alcohol on the body are done according to emotion, forgetfulness or lack of interest in protecting oneself combined with the use of stimulants, leading to the spread of the disease and making it difficult to discover new cases of the disease, since individuals do not remember what happened. 

For Milton, serophobia interferes with the discovery of HIV cases given that the fear of discovering that you have the virus in your body is a reality within society, hindering the forms of treatment that could be used if the disease is still in its early stages. initial. 

The geriatrician warns that the treatment of the disease in mature people must be carried out with greater care as they are naturally prone to a change in immunity and, consequently, are more vulnerable and sensitive to diseases and their treatments. In addition to being careful with other aspects related to health as they age. 

"It is important that older people living with HIV continue their follow-up to assess whether they will maintain or change the antiretroviral and how this will be done. In addition, also think about other ways of taking care of the consequences that accompany aging, such as promoting health, doing physical activity, finding out if you have osteoporosis, thinking about bone health and mental health." points out the doctor. 

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