Fairfield-Echo.com

HIV knows no age limits

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 4,980 people over 50 were newly infected with HIV in 1991; in 1996, the number was 6,090, an increase of 22 percent from 1991. And in 2003, the total number of people over 50 living with HIV was estimated at 67,000. The rate of AIDS among those 50 and older is still increasing, both as a result of older people becoming infected with the AIDS virus, and living longer with the virus. So if you're newly divorced, still single or just between relationships, you need to use condoms and take appropriate precautions, regardless of your age. Another good idea is to make sure you and your partner have negative HIV tests (as well as test for other STDs) before becoming intimate.

Take precautions for oral sex

Although unprotected oral sex is presumably safer than unprotected anal sex or vaginal intercourse, it is no guarantee of protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Most sexually transmitted diseases can be spread via oral sex. To protect yourself, make sure your partner uses a condom if you're performing oral sex; if he's performing oral sex on you, or if you're having oral sex with a woman, use a dental dam, a flat piece of latex used during dental procedures. You can get them in some medical supply stores. They provide a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus during oral sex. Household plastic wrap or a split and flattened, unlubricated condom can also be used if you don't have dental dam. Also, don't brush or floss your teeth right before having oral sex. Either may tear the lining of your mouth, increasing your exposure to viruses.

Practice the best protection

The best protection against any type of sexually transmitted disease is a latex condom. However, it doesn't provide 100 percent protection against STDs—only abstinence does. If you use a condom, make sure you use it properly. Human error causes more condom failures than manufacturing errors. Use a new condom with each sexual act (including oral sex). Carefully handle it so you don't damage it with you fingernails, teeth or other sharp objects. Put the condom on after the penis is erect and before any genital contact. Use only water-based lubricants with latex condoms. Ensure adequate lubrication during intercourse. Hold the condom firmly against the base of the penis during withdrawal, and withdraw while the penis is still erect to prevent slippage.

Get tested for STDs

No one test screens for all STDs. Some require a vaginal exam and Pap smear; others a blood or urine test. You can get tested at your health department, community clinic, private health care professional or Planned Parenthood. Or call the CDC's National STD and AIDS hotlines at 1-800-227-8922 or 1-800-342-2437 for free or low-cost clinics in your area.

Know whether you have an STD

While some STDs may present with symptoms such as sores/ulcers or discharge, many have no symptoms. You can't always tell if you or a partner has a STD just by looking, particularly in women. Don't rely on a partner's self-reporting and assume that will prevent you from acquiring an STD; many infected persons do not know they have a problem. They may think symptoms are caused by something else, such as yeast infections, friction from sexual relations, or allergies. Educate yourself about your own body and, in turn, learn about your own individual risk for contracting an STD. One way to do this is to schedule an examination with a health care professional who can sit down with you and help you learn the principles for staying safe and sexually healthy. Don't allow fear, embarrassment or ignorance to jeopardize your future.

Talk to your children about STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases are particularly common among adolescents. And it's an issue kids need to be concerned about. Parents can play a large role in their adolescent's behavior, both in terms of the behavior you model yourself, and in terms of the communication between you and your teen. Make sure your daughter has regular visits with a competent gynecologist, and that your son sees a medical professional who specializes in adolescent health at least once a year, if, for nothing else than some plain talk about STDs and pregnancy. And talk to your kids. Study after study proves that when parents talk to their kids about sexual issues, their kids listen. Don't worry that talking about sex is the same as condoning it; numerous studies dispute that theory. In fact, studies show that when parents talk about sex, children are more likely to talk about it themselves, to delay their first sexual experiences and to protect themselves against pregnancy and disease when they do have sex.