Introduction:
Ageing and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been very topical for a long time but not much has been said of ageing and sexually transmitted infections (STI). The Public Health England STI 2015 update indicates there has been an increase in the rate of STIs in the over 45s since 2011.

Methods:
50 random case notes of patients over 50, seen between April 2015 and March 2016 in Sefton Sexual Health Clinic, Southport, North West England. These cases were audited against the 97% target in Sexual History taking 2013 guidelines.

Results:
There were 31men (62%), 4 of whom were homosexual, and 19 (38%) women, all heterosexual. Patients were aged between 50 to 75years old. 78% were symptomatic. 16% had casual partners, 38% of these used commercial sex workers. 
44% were asked about previous STIs and 60% of patients were offered STI screening and off these 13% declined.  
82% of patients were asked if they had ever had an HIV test and of these 44% had. Of the 56% that said they had never had a test, 100% were offered a test and 87% accepted.
The commonest diagnosis was the first episode of herpes and herpes reoccurrence (both 12%), then first episode of warts (10%) and wart reoccurrence (8%). No patients tested positive for Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea. 

Discussion:
STI and BBV screening at any age should be guided by an accurate sexual health history and not an assumption. It is a disservice to simply assume low risk due to age.

Are the over 50s being let down by Sexual Health Clinics? - Audit of sexual history taking in over 50s

The Joint Annual Conference of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV & the Society for the Study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Ireland