Sexually transmitted disease rates among people 55+ skyrocketed between 2012 and 2022; New outdoor ad campaign points to free, nonjudgmental testing and treatment

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization which also provides free, comprehensive sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and treatment, is rolling out a new national outdoor advertising campaign reminding older adults that “STDs are Timeless.” The ads feature a variety of older couples kissing on the beach with an idyllic golden sunset behind them. The “Timeless” headline is accompanied by the URL for AHF’s freeSTDcheck.org website which makes it easy to find one of AHF’s free, nonjudgmental STD testing and treatment locations.

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AHF is rolling out a new national outdoor advertising campaign reminding older adults that “STDs are Timeless.” The ads feature a variety of older couples kissing on the beach with an idyllic golden sunset behind them. The “Timeless” headline is accompanied by the URL for AHF’s freeSTDcheck.org website. (Photo: AHF)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among individuals 55 and older exploded in the decade between 2012-2022. Chlamydia jumped from 6,084 cases to 19,776 cases—a 225% increase. Gonorrhea diagnoses in the senior population went from 3,874 to 18,804 cases—a 385% hike. Syphilis diagnoses jumped an astounding 585%, increasing from 1,678 to 10,325 cases.

“We know many older adults may have received less information about sexual health and wellness than what is available now and may be less comfortable discussing the subject with a health care provider,” said Dr. Michael Dube, National Medical Director, AHF Public Health Division. “Our campaign is a reminder that STDs can occur at any age, so we encourage anyone having sex to use condoms, practice safer sex, and get tested regularly regardless of symptoms.”

The “STDs are Timeless” outdoor advertisements started posting last week on billboards, bus interior cards, bus benches, posters, and transit shelters. The campaign will appear in 15 cities nationwide where AHF has clinics and Wellness Centers offering free STD testing and treatment, including Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Jackson, MS; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Oakland, CA; Orlando, FL; San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and Washington, DC.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.1 million individuals across 47 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

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