Dr. Ina Park, an associate professor of family community medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and author of Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STIs, emphasizes that there's a common misconception about age and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite reaching 55 or older, individuals are not immune to STIs. Park stresses that "you can get an STI regardless of your age." As she quotes HIV research scientist Dr. Stephen Karpiak, "Age is not a condom." Furthermore, Park highlights the concerning trend that STI rates are on the rise across all age groups, including those over 55. While infections such as chlamydia tend to be more prevalent among adolescents and young adults, recent research presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases highlights a concerning trend. STIs, including chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and syphilis, have more than doubled among Americans aged 55 to 64 over the past decade. With projections indicating that 1 in 6 people globally will be 60 and older by 2030, the study underscores the importance of healthcare professionals addressing sexual health as a routine aspect of care for older adults. There are numerous factors contributing to the persistence of STIs among older adults. Dr. Park notes that some individuals have received little to no education regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their prevention. Others may have been solely educated about unplanned pregnancy or subjected to fear-based teachings that primarily emphasized graphic portrayals of the worst-case scenarios associated with STIs. #Queer Up Health