Baby boomers in the U.S., Canada and Britain are seeing an increase in rates of sexually transmitted disease. According to new research, the numbers have doubled in 10 years. What is the cause of the rise in STDs?

The Student British Medical Journal found that 80 percent of people between 50 and 90-years-old are sexually active. The only problem is that fewer are practicing safer sex.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2000, 706 people Americans between the ages of 45 and 54 were diagnosed with infectious syphilis. One hundred and seventy nine of those between the ages of 55 and 64 had contacted syphilis. In 2010 those numbers rose to 2,056 people between the ages of 45 and 54 being infected, and 493 of those between 55 and 64 years old. Numbers of those infected with chlamydia are drastically higher. Between the ages of 45 and 54, the number of those diagnosed with chlamydia jumped from 5,601 in 2000, to 16,106 in 2010. For those between the ages of 55 and 64, 1,110 were diagnosed with chlamydia in 2000, and the number rose to 3,523 in 2010.

So why have these numbers of those infected with sexually transmitted diseases increased? Researchers believe that the cause could be the rise in number of people that are sexually active. Unsafe sex and medications for erectile dysfunction may also be factors.

Sex therapist Ian Kerner has another theory. Kerner told CNN that those 50 and up are the fastest growing demographic of people using online dating. Just as we spend a lot of time advising kids to practice safer sex, we need to do the same thing for ourselves and our parents, said Kerner.

So how can you lower your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease? According to Livestrong.com, the number one way to practice safe sex is to use a condom. Condoms prevent fluids from intermixing that may contain STD's or infection. Condoms also reduce the amount of skin-to-skin contact, says Planned Parenthood.

It is also important for you and your partner to get checked before sex. Ask your health care provider to give you an STD test. Planned Parenthood and other clinics also offer STD testing.

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