Older people putting sexual health at risk.

Byline: KATIE CAMPLING

NEW research has revealed it is not just teenagers who are putting their sexual health at risk - the older generation are too.

Adults aged 45 and over are taking chances with their sexual health, according to new research by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

YouGov surveyed adults aged 18 to 55 during March on behalf of the RPSGB, about their behaviour when starting new sexual relationships.

They discovered that one in five 45 to 54-year-olds had unprotected sex with someone other than a long-term partner within the past five years.

Almost a third of people questioned said their risk of getting a sexually-transmitted infection with a new partner was 'unlikely or very unlikely.' A further 20% believed the risk was 'next to nothing.' Around 25% of over-55s believed their chances of getting an STI from unprotected sex were minimal - compared to just 13% of 18 to 24-year-olds.

Mirfield pharmacist Gill Hawksworth said the older generation clearly need more sex education.

"The majority of safe sex messages are targeted at teenagers, but as more adults begin new relationships later in life, they quite clearly need advice too." While the younger generation may not practice safe sex because they are unaware of contraception or STIs, it seems the older generation know risks exist but believe they are immune to them.

A quarter of the 45 to 54-year-olds surveyed said they did not use contraception because they trusted the person they were sleeping with not to have an STI.

One in 10 said they just did not like the feeling of condoms.

But Mrs Hawksworth said anyone can be at risk at it is better to be safe than sorry.

"You can't always tell who has an STI and infections don't discriminate on the basis of age.

"If you have unprotected sex with a new partner, you are at risk of STIs which often show few symptoms but can have serious consequences to health." She said people can often be embarrassed to seek advice or do not know where to get it from.

If people do not want to see their GP, or cannot get an appointment, pharmacies can be a good source of advice.

Mrs Hawksworth said: "It can be difficult to know where to go for information about sexual health, but your pharmacy can be an excellent source.

"Pharmacies are open long hours and weekends and most now have a private consultation area where patients can discuss their problems confidentially.

"Pharmacists are expert health professionals who already play an important role in sexual health services.

"They can advise on the prevention and treatment of STIs, pregnancy testing kits, emergency contraception, condoms and other contraception, as well as being able to tell you about local NHS services." Services available at pharmacies include: advice on treating or preventing STIs; chlamydia screening and treatments; advice on choosing and using condoms; pregnancy testing and fertility kits; the 'morning after pill'; contraception and information about services offered by GPs and GUM clinics..

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ADVICE: Pharmacist Gill Hawksworth urges older people to take advantage of advice