Older Women Urged to Take Precautions Amid HIV Rise
Campaigners highlight growing HIV risk for women in their 50s and 60s, urging condom use and awareness.
Women in their 50s and 60s are being urged to practice safe sex as new cases of HIV among heterosexual groups continue to rise. Campaigners warn that some women in this age group may underestimate their risk, with many not using condoms during sexual activity.
Blue Sky Trust, a sexual health charity working across north-east England and Cumbria, has reported increasing numbers of older women seeking support. A recent parliamentary committee report highlighted that new HIV diagnoses among women exposed through sex with men have risen by 26% since 2019, describing the trend as “alarming.”
The report recommended expanding opt-out testing programmes at women’s health hubs and running locally-led campaigns targeting at-risk groups, including Black African and Asian communities. Julieanne Mitchell from Blue Sky Trust emphasized that women who are perimenopausal or menopausal may mistakenly believe they are no longer at risk, leading to unprotected sex. She urged these women to consider sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and to use protection.
Modern HIV treatments allow those living with the virus to maintain healthy, normal lives. Antiretroviral drugs suppress the virus and prevent transmission, a principle known as U=U, meaning undetectable equals untransmissible. Despite these advances, stigma around HIV persists, with some people still fearing casual transmission through sharing cutlery or using the same toilet seat, which is not how the virus spreads.
Nigel Bullock, a member of Blue Sky Trust, has used social media to counter misinformation about HIV. Sharing educational posts on Facebook and Instagram, he found an overwhelmingly positive response, with people engaging, asking questions, and learning about living safely with HIV.
As World AIDS Day is observed, campaigners continue to stress the importance of awareness, testing, and safe sexual practices, particularly for older women, to help curb rising HIV infections and challenge outdated myths surrounding the virus.
