OLDER men getting back into the dating game are having riskier sex than younger suitors, leaving them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, a new study suggests.
Men in their 50s and 60s were less likely to use a condom or have a good understanding of STIs than younger male suitors, found the analysis of 2339 men who logged onto the dating site RSVP.
The findings suggest a sex education refresher may be in order for older lotharios who were more likely to believe condoms were mood killers that would stifle their sexual pleasure, reported the researchers at Family Planning NSW.
Fewer than half of men over 60 said they would only have sex with a new partner if they used a condom. The same was true of 51 per cent of men in their 50s compared to almost 70 per cent of men aged 19-29, found the study published in the journal Sexual Health on Friday.
The study also found that older men who had multiple sexual partners were more likely to have riskier sex without a condom, bucking a long-established trend that generally sexually experience people had higher rates of safe sex practices.
"These men on dating websites are coming out of long-term relationships and finding new partners and their knowledge many not be so up-to-date," said study co-author and medical director of FPNSW Dr Deborah Bateson.
"It may be many years, even decades since older men have come across or received information about STIs," Dr Bateson said.
National data shows the number of people divorcing after 20 years of marriage had risen from 13 per cent in 1990 to 28 per cent in 2011.
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