WARNING: The video above shows people in sexual positions, albeit fully clothed.
When you envision your golden years, do you picture yourself lying on a beach sipping at cocktails, or are you comfortably at home, getting through your extensive library? Or in an entirely different scenario, perhaps you're seducing every eligible partner that comes your way and having the best sex of your life.
We're pretty happy to report the last option appears to be the reality for more and more retirees, who are enjoying healthy sex lives -- but less happy to note they're dealing with all of the less-than-fun stuff that goes along with it. The somewhat tongue-in-cheek video above was produced by Safer Sex for Seniors, a collective of educators, counsellors, researchers and others involved in sexual health, who have noted the rising older population having fun in the bedroom -- and are hoping to help with any questions they may have.
Beyond the good times is the real message: "In Florida alone, STDs in seniors have risen 71%." Sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs and STDs) are on the increase for older people, which, depending on the study, is defined as anyone from post-45 to older than 60.
As researcher Elizabeth Boskey wrote on About.com, 60 per cent of those over 60 have sex at least once a week, but aren't considered to be at risk for an STD. This is in direct contrast to research finding that STIs are more than doubling in the 50 to 90-year-old population.
Whether it's because the education about these infections wasn't around when this age group was young enough to be the target demographic or thanks to biases about condoms and other forms of protection, it's a message that needs to get out (and there are particular tests to focus on). So while it might be hilarious and slightly squirm-inducing to see seniors in Kama Sutra positions, it's a message meant to be shared. And be honest -- aren't you happy to know sex doesn't stop at 40?