When you get older, you may not be thinking about your sexual health as much as you should. It is a commonly held myth that STDs such as herpes are not really present amongst older people, but in fact quite the reverse is true.
Herpes is particularly prevalent – between 50 and 80 percent of all adults in America have herpes. The best thing to do if you are an untested adult is to have the test. There is no point in waiting and worrying – you should go to your doctor and ask for the simple blood test that is necessary in order for you to confirm whether or not you have the disease, and what kind you have. Getting an appropriate diagnosis can help you to prevent yourself from infecting others.
If you have herpes, you will find that it breaks out at certain times. When you have an outbreak of herpes, you should avoid sex 100 percent of the time. Don’t just look for the obvious, noticeable symptoms – any other itching or pain could be a signal that an outbreak is occurring. It’s also worth being aware that cold sores on the mouth are a form of herpes, and if you have one of these you must avoid oral sex as you can spread the virus to the genitals.
Herpes can be spread through oral sex, intercourse and any skin-to-skin contact between two people. Even if you have gone through the menopause, you should use condoms, as these can prevent you from getting a sexually transmitted disease such as herpes. If you want to be extra safe, make sure that you or your partner wear a condom before any kind of foreplay or genital touching takes place. This will also protect you from all other STDs.
