The number of older people attending Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) sexual health clinics doubled between 2021 and 2022.
Requests from 45-year-olds and over for online sexually transmitted disease (STI) testing kits via Kent County Council’s (KCC) Sexual Health Matters web page also continue to rise.
The upturn in older people reaching out for professional support coincides with a landmark project aimed at improving their sexual health and wellbeing.
Bringing together experts in public, sexual and community health, the SHIFT (Sexual Health In the over ForTy-fives) project ran across local communities in the UK, Netherlands and Belgium aimed at ending the stigma of older people using sexual health support services.
“... not protecting your sexual health because, for example, pregnancy is no longer a consideration after the menopause, can put older people at risk”
Kent County Council (KCC) Director of Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, said: "Discovering new relationships can be an exciting part of mid and later life.
“But not protecting your sexual health because, for example, pregnancy is no longer a consideration after the menopause, can put older people at risk. STIs often don’t have obvious symptoms and we know such infections are on the increase among adults.
“The good news is you can get free online STI testing kits from the kent.gov website And while the increase in requests for this service among 45-year-olds and over is a welcome change in behaviour, don’t forget you can also take pre-emptive steps to protect yourself, and others.
"Have a look at the SHIFT website, which is aimed at shifting perceptions about sexual health for older people.”
“It is just as important to think about your sexual health and consider any concerns beyond your mid-forties as it is if you are younger”
Dr Mun-Yee Tung, Consultant Physician with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust Sexual Health services, said: “Sex definitely doesn’t stop when you are over 45. However, many people in this age group are reluctant think about their sexual health and get a check-up, or are unaware how to – and that needs to change.
“It is just as important to think about your sexual health and consider any concerns beyond your mid-forties as it is if you are younger.”
Led by The Health and Europe Centre, and funded by the Interreg 2 Seas European Development Fund, SHIFT ended in March 2023. But the project’s website here has a wide range of helpful information that will continue to be updated for the 45s and over on a range of subjects such as menopause, erectile disfunction, sexual orientation and sex after an operation.
To find out more about the KCHFT sexual health service, visit: www.kentcht.nhs.uk/service/sexual-health
