"Doctors often fail to warn elderly of AIDS risk" (Viagra, Prostitutes)

[Zookeeper]

From the Personal MD website:

"Several factors are contributing to the increase of AIDS among the elderly, specialists say.

'With the popular use of Viagra, seniors are more sexually active,' said Donna Gallagher, director of the New England AIDS Education and Training Center. 'But several studies conclude that older Americans don't use condoms. We've approached Pfizer about including information about safe sex but they haven't done anything yet. We're still hounding them.'

In South Florida, health workers have noticed a new phenomenon: elderly men crusing for prostitutes.

'It's true. They do that pretty much the first to the fifth of each month when their Social Security checks and pensions come in,' said Gloria Scott, who works for the Florida Department of Health.

'Viagra has played a big role. It's why it's more out there. And the men don't like to use condoms," she said."

*snip*

"Brand said that in some retirement communities the ratio of women to men is 7 to 1.

'The women like to go out and dance and go to dinner and a movie. If you are a man that can drive at night, you can have a smorgasbord of women..."

http://www.personalmd.com/news/n0697051906.shtml

The article is from 2001, but from talking with older women living in Florida, I know this is still very much an issue.

On edit: I am rabble-rousing here. Would this increase in AIDS in seniors have happened if Medicare didn't fund Viagra?

[Warpy]

1. There may have been a slight increase

but not the massive increase that we've seen. Yes, having Medicare pay for that stuff greatly increased HIV infection from hooker to old man who whined about condoms, to a large group of widows who were too embarrassed to insist on condoms, or didn't think they needed them post menopause.

This is the stupidest decision Medicare ever made, thanks to pressure from Pfizer and the other manufacturers.

The Karma from this one is going to be really nasty.

[Chicago Democrat]

2. This is my neighbor accross the street.

Keeps him young. Screwing women who really love him and want to that he picks up at Ballroom dancing About 75 yo.

[Zookeeper]

4. Does he have any awareness of AIDS? Does he use condoms?

Would he be sexually active without Viagra?

Has Viagra created an "unnatural" situation? How many 75 year old men would be sexually active without it?

I'm not begrudging the old coots a sex life, but it does seem like the whole situation has developed without anyone stopping to consider possible consequences or preparing for them (thank you, drug companies!).

On a more humorous note, I recently heard some comedian refer to Viagra as "Grandma abuse." I'm sure there are some (not all) elderly wives who were less than thrilled with that medical breakthrough!

[cestpaspossible]

3. 7 to 1

finally a reason to look forward to being old and gray

[Zookeeper]

5. LOL! n/t