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Health Issues for Men that can Make Sex over 60 Difficult

By the time a man is 60 years of age, his normal level of sexual intercourse has dropped by half. This is based on the average peak from around 18 to 25 years of age for a normal male. There are a variety of different health issues for men that can make engaging in sex after they are 60 years of age difficult.

There are both physical and mental problems for men that can make it difficult to get or maintain an erection. Even if the problems starts out being physical in nature, it can soon turn into a psychological issue as well. This is because a man can feel inadequate when he can no longer fulfill this role. He may become angry, upset, and even emotionally withdrawn because of it.

Even during sexual excitement, he may be thinking about it in the back of his mind. The anxiety of previously not being able to get or maintain an erection can certainly affect a man. The fear of it happening again can actually cause it to happen to the point where a man will avoid engaging in any type of intimacy that could lead to the woman wanting sexual intercourse to take place.

A male may find that various medications that have to be taken for medical problems can result in erectile dysfunction. The is can be frustrating because in order to take care of a certain medical need they have to give up something that is giving them a great deal of pleasure. Taking the medication may only be temporary but if it is to be an ongoing need then it is more of a concern.

Sometimes the erectile dysfunction from the medications is a side effect that goes away as the body adjusts to it. Other times the doctor is going to need to adjust the dosage or even try out new medications. Many males don’t want to share this problem with their doctor though so they just stop taking their medication. That is certainly not a good solution for any male who is having problems with sex due to medication conditions as well as their age.

There are some healthy issues for men that make sex after the age of 60 difficult that are more on the mental level than anything else. They may find they don’t have the same defined look in their arms or abs that they once had. They may find it hard to believe a woman still wants to be with them sexually when they look like that.

Low self esteem is a major problem for men with their overall physical appearance as they get older. The development of a beer gut or even the onset of going bald can all affect them. Do your best to remind yourself of your best qualities so you can focus on having a great time during sex and not your appearance.

Not all males over the age of 60 will have health issues that prevent them from having a happy sex life. However, since so many well it is a very important issue to address. They can become frustrated when they can no longer perform sexually as they once did. It can create issues in their relationship too if their partner no longer feels desired or their sexual needs aren’t being satisfied.

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April 15, 2022
Having Sex into your 60’s and Beyond can help you Feel Younger

When we are young we often proudly tell people just how old we are. That all changes though when a person gets older. However, you are only truly as old as you feel. Skip the skin cream if you want to feel younger as one of the best ways to do so is to have a good sex life. Some will argue that this isn’t always possible due to not having a partner, but even masturbating when you are 60 or older will help you to feel younger.

Sexual activity helps to relieve tension in both the mind and the body. It is agreed that all adults can certainly benefit from that. A healthy sex life also helps you to feel good about who you are. There are few things in life that are as intimate between two individuals as having sexual relations. If you are true to the meaning behind your feelings then sex can only get better for you as you get older.

It may be hard for younger generations to understand how sex can get better with age. It has to do with the emotional connection that is found in the older years. We often take our relationships for granted when we are younger even if we truly do love those we are with. The physical as well as the emotional connect that can be made is what makes it that much more special.

You can feel younger having sex when you are past your 60th birthday and have some additional perks. For example you often don’t have to worry about work schedules, taking care of children, or many other types of interruptions that can get into your way. There is also no longer a risk of getting pregnant and that can allow many couples to feel very free.

When you are young, you often can’t imagine being over 60 and still having sex. It may seem like you are going to be so old. It really depends on your age when you start having such thoughts though. Keep in mind that your physical condition is going to affect how old you feel. Some 40 year olds physically feel older than many 60 years old. Staying active is going to be key to being able to still enjoy sex at an older age.

You may not have experimented much with sex when you were younger but still have the desire to do so. You are never too old to have fun with sex so let your partner know what your desires are. Chances are they will be very willing to comply with what you want to be fulfilled. Make sure you find out what they need as well so both of you can enjoy the activities and feel younger in the process.

Sex is an activity that people can really enjoy for their entire adult life. It doesn’t have to stop just because of the number of candles on your birthday cake. While it is true that you won’t hear as many 60 something people talking about sex, they are still enjoying it. There are plenty of statistics out there that reflect this. You can feel good about yourself as well as feel years younger if you are actively enjoying sex at this age and beyond.

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April 15, 2022
Having an Active Sex Life into your 60’s can Benefit your Overall Health

Having an active sex life into your 60’s can benefit your overall health. There are plenty of statistics to show this can help encourage a person to live a very healthy lifestyle. They will be more concerned about their overall appearance and so they eat better and exercise more.

Many individuals engaging in sex when they are over 60 are also more concerned with their overall health. This means they are willing to keep their appointments for annual check ups. They will also do what the doctor recommends in regards to taking medications and to making changes to their daily habits.

The topic has become more of an issue in our society due to people living longer than ever before. For many people, life doesn’t end when they retire as it is only beginning. They find they can pursue new interests and they certainly enjoy having an active sex life. For most people in this age category and older, there is no reason not to continue experimenting with sex and having a great time.

It can be a time to get to know your body in new ways. You may find sex is different at this age though. It may not occur as often and it may not last as long from start to finish. Yet there are still plenty of ways to please your partner to make the most of it. At the same time you can communicate what makes you feel good so you are getting all you can out of the sexual experiences you choose to be a part of.

Having a healthy lifestyle is very important for people of any age. As you get older though it becomes even more important. You can do your part to make sure sexual activity is still a great part of our life when you are in your 60’s. Eliminate the use of tobacco and alcohol from your lifestyle. You also want to make sure you eat right, get plenty of rest, and exercise regularly.

Many people in their 60’s will tell you that continuing to have sex makes them feel younger than they really are. This carries over into many other aspects of their life as well. They feel better both physically and mentally due to it. They are also able to maintain a very healthy and intimate relationship with someone who is very important to them.

In our society, it has also become more socially acceptable for such behaviors to take place. In the past it was deemed gross or even out of line for people of such age to be thinking about sex. While many of them did, they kept their thoughts on the subject very private. Today they are able to explore them and share them without feeling guilty or feeling like they are being judged.

It is believed that having a positive attitude about sex and realizing that is natural to want to continue having it when you are older plays a vital role in this. Those that don’t question their desire to continue having sexual activity into their 60’s and later will be able to relax and enjoy it. They aren’t going to be inhibited by their age or what is going on around them.

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April 15, 2022
Experimenting in the Bedroom: The Dangers of Going Too Far

If you are looking to improve your sex life, chances are you may be up for a little bit of experimenting. Experimenting in the bedroom is how many couples improve their relationships and not only in the bedroom. The only problem is that some individuals do not know that there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

Before you suggest experimenting in the bedroom to your partner or before you start doing, it is important to know that there are consequences for going too far. Before closely examining those consequences, it is important to determine what too far actually means. Here is the problem, many individuals are unsure. You know your partner through. Will he or she be turned on with the addition of a new sex partner or sex toys or will he or she be turned off? You should know before you proceed.

As for what the consequences are to taking experimenting in the bedroom too far, your partner’s feelings may be hurt. Unfortunately, many spouses and significant others believe that experimentation is needed in the bedroom because they aren’t able to fulfill your desires enough on their own. If this wasn’t bad enough, their mind may start to wander. Do you really want to be with them any more? Are you cheating? Will you start cheating soon?

Another consequence to taking experimentation in the bedroom too far is the view that your partner may develop about you. Do you want to add another sex partner into the mix? If you do, your significant other may start to think very poorly of you. She may think that you are sick or sex crazed. If your main goal is to improve your overall relationship, not just the intimacy in the bedroom, this is an important factor that you will want to take into consideration before suggestion something extreme.

If you take experimenting in the bedroom too far, your partner may no longer wish to have sex with you. In fact, he or she may start to avoid having any form of intimacy with you. This occurs for a number of different reasons. Typically, if your partner is turned off by what you are suggesting, they are likely to put off having sex with you, even just for a short period of time.

If avoiding sex wasn’t enough, you may find your relationship coming to an end. Unfortunately, many individuals, possibly just like you, do know how big of a deal experimentation in the bedroom can be. Remember that there is a difference between trying a new sex position and having your spouse pretend to be an old girlfriend of yours or even bringing an old girlfriend into the bedroom. If you are not careful with how you proceed, spicing up your intimacy may be the least of your problems. You may find yourself alone and in an empty bed, having to start the whole process over again.

As you can see, there are a number of consequences to expecting too much of your partner in the bedroom. Experimenting in the bedroom can help to spice up your sex life, but just be sure to use your best judgment. Do not offer up suggestions that you already know your partner will refuse, as there may be serious consequences for doing so.

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April 15, 2022
Experimenting in the Bedroom: Should You Make a Change?

How is your sex life? Does the thought of having sex with your partner get you revved up and excited? If not, it may be time for a change.

For many couples, the thought of uneventful sex can be looked upon as a required task or a duty, as opposed to a period of enjoyable pleasure. As relationships grow and expand in time, so should a couple’s sex life. If this is not what is happening with your relationship, a change may be needed. Unfortunately, many men and women believe that change requires a new sex partner, but that doesn’t have to be the case. There are a number of ways that you can your current sex partner can experiment and bring new life into your bedroom.

It is important to know that there are many new bedroom techniques and tricks readily available for couples to try. These new techniques and tricks may be just what your sex life and relationship needs. Experimentation can come in the formats of both physical and emotional. For more information on ways that you can bring new life into your bedroom, with the use of experimentation, please continue reading on.

Do you and your partner currently rely on the use of sex toys? If not, you may want to give them a try. Sex toys can make sex more fun and exciting. In fact, did you know that they can also help to make you feel young again? Toys are available for multiple uses. Concerning these items, it is also important to remember that you don’t have to go into “kinky,” territory. There are accessories, such as a new outfits, blindfolds, and massage oils that also fall into the category.

Experimenting in the bedroom can also involve trying a new position. As for the benefits of doing so, a new intimate position tends to increases excitement and satisfaction levels. Did you also know that it can increase the number of calories burned? While we don’t always look at intimacy from the standpoint of exercise, it is an added benefit to take into consideration. If you need ideas or suggestions, invest in a new Kama Sutra book. Just remember that some positions look nice on paper, but they may be too difficult or unrealistic for you and your partner to try.

The use of romantic or pornographic movies can also be used as a way to experiment in the bedroom. Before inciting intimacy with your partner, consider starting a movie. Romantic and seductive movies can help to get you in the mood for what is about to come. You may also get new fun and exciting ideas for the bedroom. As for what you will find available for sale, subjects range from instructional sex movies all the way up to hard-core pornographic films.

Role playing can add new excitement to a sexual relationship that is in need of improvement. When role playing is involved, it is best to inquire about your partner’s desires and fantasies. Ask your partner what kind of person or type of person they fantasize about. If they don’t provide you with an answer, offer up a surprise. Be sure to share your fantasies and desires with your partner as well.

The above mentioned ways are just a few of the many ways that you can revive your sex life. Experimenting in the bedroom has proven successful for many couples and their relationships. With luck, it may be able to do the same for your relationship. With that said, it may be best to proceed with caution.

Before you implement these changes or ideas, discuss them with your partner. Do not make the mistake of assuming your partner will be “all game.” To have a happy and healthy sex life, an open line of communication is important. Comfort is also vital. Intimacy should result in pleasure for both you and your partner, not discomfort or embarrassment.

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April 15, 2022
The Sorry State Of Nigeria’s Judiciary Among Others Makes The Battle Cry For A Revolution Inevitable By Francis Adewale

Lawyers

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
– President John F. Kennedy (1962)

This week may be one of the worst weeks for Nigerian judiciary and they might have made the much vaunted Sowore’s revolution inevitable. The first salvo was the list of judges released by the National Judicial Council replete with the names of their sons and daughters as well as hangers on. Second is the farcical decision in EFCC vs Kalu where the Supreme Court “suo motu” created a new section to the constitution of Nigeria by vacating a conviction duly given under an extant law. The strange rationale by the Supreme Court is that the presiding judge, now elevated to the Court of Appeal should not have pronounced the sentence. The Court conveniently ignored the fact that the accused counsel had invited the judge to come back and continue the hearing by a formal letter!

Gone are the days when Nigerian judiciary is famously celebrated as the last bastion of defense for the common man. The days of Kayode Esho, Chukwudifu Oputa, Muhammed Uwais is long gone. Our judiciary is no more like Caesar’s wife, above board. The problem however is not necessarily down to the hydra headed monster of corruption alone but a more sinister evil called, nepotism. It is my humble opinion that an opaque process for selection of judges led us to where we found ourselves this week. And the problem did not start with the current chief justice. The dysfunction and bastardization have been long in coming, and as we will find out in this piece, the cancer has eaten deep into the fabric of this nation. The revolution is inevitable.

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What precipitate this write up is a social media post by a good friend of mine and I obtained his permission to repost his comment with my personal edits:
“It took Orji Kalu only 4 months including Covid lockdown challenge to move from the High Court to Supreme Court to get his so called sound judgment from Supreme Court while it took ten years to get his case completed at the High Court level. Ten good years! And we are told justice in Nigeria is not cash and carry? The Supreme Court is preparing the ground for a revolution and very soon something extraordinary will take place. The same Supreme Court that will give 2021 and 2022 court date for poor defendants, sat and summarily decide a case within 4 months while cases of those facing a life sentence languish in the labyrinth of jungle justice!”

My first response to the post, is to retort that the problem did not start with judiciary, but they seem to have led the “nunc dimitis” for the internment of democracy in Nigeria. The judiciary may have pushed us to the praecipe but they were not the only one. We all recalled the impunity days of PDP rule and how they ride roughshod on people’s right, celebrating acquisition of jets obtained from corrupt practices while hordes of masses suffer the indignity of scrapping for foods from the gutter. Towards the end of that era, we all thought, if we can just get a man of integrity into Aso Rock, someone who will brook no atom of corruption, we will change the country. The election of 2015 seems to have lulled Nigerians into thinking that all we need is someone or a duo with integrity, so we elect Buhari and Osinbajo, a puritan and a pastor and went home satiated. What we were not prepared for or more appositely choose to ignore is the fact that the vehicle that brought them into governance is none other than the decrepit system that PDP used to feather their nest. In the first 4 years, we were told that the problem is with the National Assembly where the legistlooters shifted their control of the vortex of power in Abuja, opposing every anti-corruption moves of the executives. Then come the last election where the ruling party now controls the executive and legislative arm, but corruption runs through the gamut of the judiciary and Aso Rock looks the other way while nepotism festers in its rank.

It is as if the cancer has completely swallowed up the entire fabric of the nation. Cases involving the poor dragged on for years while those who can afford senior advocate can get quick justice. Many warned that this will sound the death knell of democracy in Nigeria. Every attempt to even build on free and fair election has been truncated by the judiciary. What with the recent confounding judgment from Imo and Bayelsa. Our two gargantuan political parties now owned our judiciary lock, stock and barrel. They sit in smoke filled rooms to determine who will be governors, legislators and judges, and those who will play ball are readily appointed as pawns in the chest board of the Nigerian ruling class, wives, nephews, cousins, sons and daughters are made judges and senior advocates overnight without recourse to any modicum of meritocracy. A friend of mine recently quipped that the problem of nepotism is not just that it defeats meritocracy and breeds mediocrity but that it infects the entire body politics and renders it comatose. Corruption can be traced, and ill-gotten wealth recovered but nepotism is more sinister. Those who obtain position of power and authority through nepotism hold fealty only to their masters who appointed them. Such appointee will readily twist the constitution, made up section that does not exist all at the behest of their “godfather”. It is insidious and evil.

I graduated from Nigerian Law School 30 years ago, after an excellent stint at Great Ife. My class at Ife, drawn from the north, east, west middle belt and south-south has in its rank some of the best legal minds any country will be proud of. We graduated with high hopes to take on the world and change the land. Few of us found ourselves abroad on scholarship where we flourish and excel. Those in legal practice in Nigeria, either at the federal or state ministry of justice or private practice are the ones my heart bleeds for, especially those without access to members of the National Judicial Council. I have had the privilege to advance my career abroad as an attorney and public defender. I frequently sit on panels that recommend colleagues for appointment as judges in a fair, open and transparent process; something my colleagues in Nigeria could only dream of.

When I look at the state of Nigerian legal practice my heart bleeds. The career growth of colleagues in the legal profession in Nigeria is stunted not for lack of excellence but influence in the right place. Influence peddling is an art form in Nigeria and politicians used to have the exclusive preserve of selling it to the highest bidder, but our Judicial Council seems to have mastered the art. The problem will not be this pronounced if the sons and daughters they are foisting on Nigerian judiciary are steeped in the Nigerian experience or have a modicum of merit. As many of my colleagues are apt to complain, majority of the recent appointees hardly spend few years in Nigeria. They all went to schools abroad. Totally devoid of the Nigerian experience, and constantly removed from the everyday life Nigerians suffers under. Majority of them lives in the gilded mansions of their forbears in Abuja and other state capitals, where they are rarely touched by the “better angels of our nature” to use the phrase coined by Abraham Lincoln. It is therefore no surprise that they care only for what their “godfather” demand.

Let me however warns that the biggest mistake we could make is to think that the rot is only in the heart of our judiciary. Think again. Nepotism is next door, next street, next town and everywhere in Nigeria. It rampages through the land, be it North, East or West. Just look at our churches and mosques, who do you see minister or lead the prayers when the founder/visioner is not around? You guess right, if you say their sons and daughters. Gone are the days when Pa Fadayomi push to have a meritorious doctor of aerodynamics succeed him. Gone are the days when the leader of the faithful in Nigeria is selected by their aptitude in the knowledge of the Quaran. Nowadays, the exit of the leader is the beginning of the reign of the progeny. It has infected our colleges and universities, scholarship and opportunities that used to be available on merit are now exclusive preserve of the vice chancelor’s children and family members. Woe betide the school senate members that dare ask questions. Advertisement for jobs that has already been reserved for the children of the privileged are means to extort money in the form of application fees a la Abba Moro immigration recruitment scheme. A recent recruitment without advertisement at our apex bank reported by Sahara Reporters shows that successful applicants names were picked out of the rolodex of the governor. Commercial Banks staff are not an exemption, they are either recruited based on sex appeal or influential ministers/senators’ “recommendation” which doesn’t come easy for the educated but less privileged applicants.

A friend concluded an animated discussion on social media on this issue with a distinctively Nigerian resignation: “It is clear that those who do not want things to work properly in Nigeria are more powerful than those who are working towards finding solutions to our problems.” Again, my response is what do we have to lose if we embrace Omoyele Sowore’s revolution, even with its youthful disdain for experience? Especially when our current experienced leadership seems to treat the Nigerian masses with contempt. Look at it this way: They do not need our votes to win election, as they could procure midnight judgment in Abuja a la Bayelsa and Imo. They do not need to legislate to fill any lacunae in our constitutional experience as the Supreme Court proved in Kalu’s case. In fact, as long as oil flows and they have the means to fill their Cayman Island bank accounts, we may as well not exist. Greed and avarice have become the directive principle of Nigerian ruling class. To rescue ourselves from their vice grip, we need revolution now!

Francis Adewale
Tioluwanimi@gmail.com

Opinion

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May 9, 2020
Billions worldwide living with herpes

About half a billion people worldwide are living with genital herpes, and several billion have an oral herpes infection, new estimates show, highlighting the need to improve awareness and scale up services to prevent and treat herpes.

About 13% of the world’s population aged 15 to 49 years were living with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in 2016, the latest year for which data is available. HSV-2 is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, causing genital herpes. Infection can lead to recurring, often painful, genital sores in up to a third of people infected.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is mainly transmitted by oral to oral contact to cause oral herpes infection – sometimes leading to painful sores in or around the mouth (“cold sores”). However, HSV-1 can also be transmitted to the genital area through oral sex, causing genital herpes.

Around 67% of the world’s population aged 0 to 49 had HSV-1 infection in 2016 – an estimated 3.7 billion people. Most of these infections were oral; however, between 122 million to 192 million people were estimated to have genital HSV-1
infection.

Genital herpes is a substantial health concern worldwide – beyond the potential pain and discomfort suffered by people living with the infection, the associated social consequences can have a profound effect on sexual and reproductive
health” says Dr Ian Askew, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Herpes and HIV

People with HSV-2 infection are at least three times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed. Thus, HSV-2 likely plays a substantial role in the spread of HIV globally. Women are more susceptible to both HSV-2 and HIV. Women living in
the WHO Africa Region have the highest HSV-2 prevalence and exposure to HIV – putting them at greatest risk of HIV infection.

No cure: vaccine needed

There is no cure for herpes. Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, can help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms but cannot cure the infection.

Better awareness, improved access to antiviral medications and heightened HIV prevention efforts for those with genital HSV symptoms are needed globally. In addition, development of better treatment and prevention interventions is needed, particularly
HSV vaccines.

“A vaccine against HSV infection would not only help to promote and protect the health and well-being of millions of people, particularly women, worldwide – it could also potentially have an impact on slowing the spread of HIV, if developed
and provided alongside other HIV prevention strategies” says Dr Meg Doherty, Director of the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes.

Authored by staff at the University of Bristol, the WHO, and Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, and published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, this new study estimates the global infection prevalence and incidence of HSV-1 and HSV-2
in 2016.

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May 9, 2020
Massive proportion of world’s population are living with herpes infection

Virus causing genital herpes may put millions of people at greater risk of infection with HIV

About half a billion people worldwide are living with genital herpes, and several billion have an oral herpes infection, new estimates show.

Authored by staff at the University of Bristol, World Health Organization (WHO), and Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, and published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
the new study estimates the global infection prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in 2016.

“Herpes infection affects millions of people across the globe and can have far-reaching health effects. We need more investment and commitment to develop better treatment and prevention tools for this infection.” says Dr Sami Gottlieb, Medical
Officer at WHO and an author of the study.

Prevalence and incidence

An estimated 491.5 million people were living with HSV-2 infection in 2016, equivalent to 13.2% of the world’s population aged 15 to 49 years. HSV-2 is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, causing infection in the genital or anal area (genital
herpes).

An estimated 3.7 billion people had HSV-1 infection during the same year – around 66.6% of the world’s population aged 0 to 49. HSV-1 is mainly transmitted by oral to oral contact to cause infection in or around the mouth (oral herpes). However,
HSV-1 can also be transmitted to the genital area through oral-genital contact – during oral sex – to cause genital herpes. Most HSV-1 infections were oral; however, between 122 million to 192 million people were estimated to have genital
HSV-1 infection, depending on the assumptions used in the estimation model.

Because herpes is a lifelong infection, estimated prevalence increased with age; HSV-2 prevalence was also higher among women and in the WHO African Region.

Health and social impacts

Most people living with herpes, caused by either HSV-1 or 2, are unaware they have the infection.

When symptoms do occur however, oral herpes infection can lead to painful sores around the mouth (“cold sores”). Genital herpes infection can cause recurring, often painful, genital sores, often referred to as genital ulcer disease.

WHO and partners published a study in March 2020 estimating that around 5% of the world’s population (187 million people) suffered from at least one episode of herpes-related genital ulcer disease in 2016 (1). Most of these episodes were due to
HSV-2, which can recur frequently over many years.

Recurrent symptoms of genital herpes can lead to stigma and psychological distress, and can have an important impact on quality of life and sexual relationships. However, in time, most people with herpes adjust to living with the infection.

“Genital herpes is a substantial health concern worldwide – beyond the potential pain and discomfort suffered by people living with the infection, the associated social consequences can have a profound effect on sexual and reproductive health”
says Dr Ian Askew, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO.

Herpes and HIV

A strong association exists between HSV-2 infection and HIV infection. In 2019, WHO commissioned a modeling study to estimate how much HSV-2 infection might contribute to HIV incidence. The study estimated that almost 30% of new sexually acquired HIV
infections in 2016 worldwide were likely attributable to HSV-2 infection (2).

Evidence shows that people with HSV-2 infection are at least three times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed. HSV-2 leads to inflammation and small breaks in the genital and anal skin that can make it easier for HIV to cause infection.
In addition, people with both HIV and HSV-2 infection are more likely to spread HIV to others.

Women have higher biologic susceptibility to both HSV-2 and HIV. Women living in the WHO Africa Region have the highest HSV-2 prevalence and exposure to HIV – putting them at greatest risk of HIV infection, with negative implications for their health
and well-being.

For people living with HIV (or who are living with other conditions that compromise their immune systems) as well as HSV-2, the symptoms of herpes can be more severe and more frequent.

Neonatal herpes

Neonatal herpes can occur when an infant is exposed to HSV in the genital tract during delivery. This is a rare condition, occurring in an estimated 10 out of every 100,000 births globally, but can lead to lasting neurologic disability or death. The risk
for neonatal herpes is greatest when a mother acquires HSV infection for the first time in late pregnancy. Women who have genital herpes before they become pregnant are at very low risk of transmitting HSV to their infants.

No cure – better treatment and prevention needed

There is no cure for herpes. At present, antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, can help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms but cannot cure the infection.

As well as increasing awareness about HSV infection and its symptoms, improved access to antiviral medications and heightened HIV prevention efforts for those with genital HSV symptoms are needed globally.

In addition, development of better treatment and prevention interventions is needed, particularly HSV vaccines. WHO and partners are working to accelerate research to develop new strategies for prevention and control of HSV infections. Such research includes
the development of HSV vaccines and topical microbicides. Several candidate vaccines and microbicides are currently being studied.

“A vaccine against HSV infection would not only help to promote and protect the health and well-being of millions of people, particularly women, worldwide – it could also potentially have an impact on slowing the spread of HIV, if developed
and provided alongside other HIV prevention strategies” says Dr Meg Doherty, Director of the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes.

Related publications

WHO guidelines for the treatment of Genital Herpes Simplex Virus

WHO preferred product characteristics for herpes simplex virus vaccines

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(1) Looker KJ, Johnston C, Welton NJ, et al. The global and regional burden of genital ulcer disease due to herpes simplex virus: a natural history modelling study. BMJ Glob Health. 2020;5(3):e001875. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019- 001875.

(2) Looker KJ, Welton NJ, Sabin KM, et al.Global and regional estimates of the contribution of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection to HIV incidence: a population attributable fraction analysis using published epidemiological data. Lancet Infect Dis.2020;20(2):240-249. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30470-0.

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May 9, 2020
New estimates highlight need to step up the response to hepatitis D

Lyon, France, 29 April 2020 – In a study published in the Journal of Hepatology,¹ Professor Anna Maria Geretti and Dr Alexander Stockdale from the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom), in collaboration with researchers
from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), estimate that worldwide, hepatitis D virus (HDV) affects nearly 5% of people who have a chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and that HDV
co-infection could explain about 1 in 5 cases of liver disease and liver cancer in people with HBV infection..

To map the epidemiology of HDV infection in the world, Professor Geretti and Dr Stockdale joined forces with the WHO Global Hepatitis Programme and IARC, alongside investigators in Germany, Malawi, and the United Kingdom. “Infection with HDV occurs
in about 1 in 22 cases of chronic HBV infection in the world,” Dr Stockdale says. “More high-quality data are needed, but we have identified several geographical hotspots of high prevalence of HDV infection: in Mongolia, the Republic of
Moldova, and countries in Western and Middle Africa.”

“Although it is less common than hepatitis B, hepatitis D is a serious disease that often affects underprivileged and vulnerable populations,” says Dr Meg Doherty, Director of the WHO Global Hepatitis Programme. Those who are more likely to
have HBV and HDV co-infection include people who inject drugs and people with hepatitis C virus or HIV infection. The risk of co-infection also appears to be higher in recipients of haemodialysis, men who have sex with men, and commercial sex workers.
Dr Doherty points out, “This information helps in identifying the groups with HBV among whom we should be looking for HDV.”

HDV (formerly known as the Delta agent) is a small virus – one of the smallest that is known to cause disease in humans – and can replicate only in the presence of HBV, from which HDV borrows some of its structures. Compared with people with
HBV infection alone, those who have a chronic infection with both HBV and HDV have a much higher risk of developing disease in the form of cirrhosis and liver cancer. “HDV is a significant contributor to severe liver disease and liver cancer,”
says IARC scientist Dr Catherine de Martel. “The findings from this study inform our work on the association between viral infections and cancer, which is focused on developing improved prevention strategies.”

Professor Geretti concludes, “HDV has long been neglected, because for decades the prevalence of infection remained uncertain and effective treatment was lacking. Mapping the epidemiology of the infection is just the first step. More efforts are
needed to reduce the global burden of chronic hepatitis B and develop medicines that are safe and effective against hepatitis D and are affordable enough to be deployed on a large scale to those who are most in need.”

¹ Stockdale AJ, Kreuels B, Henrion MYR, Giorgi E, Kyomuhangi I, de Martel C, Hutin Y, Geretti AM (2020). The global prevalence of hepatitis D virus infection: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hepatol. Published online 23 April 2020;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2020.04.008

For more information, please contact

Véronique Terrasse, Communications Group, at +33 (0)6 45 28 49 52 or terrassev@iarc.fr or IARC Communications, at com@iarc.fr

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization. Its mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for
cancer control. The Agency is involved in both epidemiological and laboratory research and disseminates scientific information through publications, meetings, courses, and fellowships. If you wish your name to be removed from our press release emailing
list, please write to com@iarc.fr.

About University of Liverpool

Founded in 1881 as the original ‘red brick’, the University of Liverpool is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive higher education institutions. Consistently ranked in the top 200 universities worldwide, we are a member of the prestigious
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https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/29-04-2020-new-estimates-highlight-need-to-step-up-the-response-to-hepatitis-d

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May 9, 2020
PRACTICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

When should parents begin telling a child of his origin?—When a child asks about his origin he is old enough to be told the first story. Some children will ask about this by the time they are three or four years old, others not until they are five or six. A normally developing child will certainly become interested in this matter by the sixth year. If a child has not asked about his origin by the time he is six, it would be wise for the parents to ascertain by questioning him whether he has received this information elsewhere.

If they find he has gained this information from the vicious, what should they do?—I would suggest that they wisely, tactfully and kindly ask him to tell them all he has heard, promising him that they will tell him the real truth in a number of very interesting stories. If he has received only very limited information, I would tell him at once the story of the plants and promise him another story in a few days or weeks about the oysters. If he has received considerable information in half-truth and learned several vulgar expressions, I would tell him these stories of life, one at the time and one each day until I had covered all the half-truths he had learned. I would endeavor skillfully to impress him with the sacredness of the laws of life. I would try to induce him to discard every false name he has learned by giving him the chaste pure names. I would teach him that we should be modest and discreet regarding these organs, and when and how to speak of them; that we should carefully avoid entertaining the idea they are in themselves sinful or that they are our shame and humiliation; that these organs and their functions are sacred, delicate and pure; and that they are our pride and our glory.

If this advice were universally followed by teachers, ministers and parents among all children over ten, youths and adults, it would immediately reform and purify society.

“If a child, especially a boy, is not fully satisfied with the information contained in these stories, and should ask for a more detailed explanation of the child’s origin, how would you answer him?”—I would first try to decide whether the child is prompted by natural or morbid curiosity. If the child is sincere, very bright and inquisitive, you will have a very pleasant task and one that should result in only good to the child. I would start with the plant and show just how the two natures reach eachother in the seed. Then I would pass in my detailed explanation to the oyster and fish. I would call his attention to the real visible examples of mating among the insects, birds, and domestic animals. I would call his attention to the father and mother of insects and birds as they build their cells and nests to receive their eggs when laid. I would call attention to the fact that food is stored up in the egg or cell for the young before and after it is hatched. I would call his attention to the fact that among the animals where the young is born alive, that the mother furnishes the young with food before it is born. If the child has witnessed the mating of the birds and domestic animals and this is explained to him in detail, the necessity for a detailed discussion of human mating will be avoided. The child could be informed that human mating is practically the same.

If the child is prompted by morbid curiosity, the task is a more difficult one, the ideal results are not so certain, but the above method is the only one that can be safely followed.

To be able to give sex and social purity truths effectively to children and youths, what qualifications should parents and teachers have?—They should have tact or skill. It is possible to approach them in such a way as to do great harm. This qualification comes to one as a result of careful study of these subjects, the{120}consciousness of personal responsibility and a realization of the child’s need of being safeguarded by a clear knowledge of the truth. (2) They should be able to discard all words and phrases they learned from the ignorant on the street and playground. They should be able to use a chaste, simple, scientific sex vocabulary. (3) They should be free from all mental and moral taint. No one can tell or willingly listen to a lascivious joke and then be able to tell effectively a child of his origin, the functions of his sexual system and his temptations and dangers in connection with them.

“Would it be safe for all parents and teachers to give sex information to children?”—It would, if all possessed the qualifications mentioned. A thief is not the proper person to teach honesty to a child. A liar is not the proper person to teach truth. A tobacco-using father is not the one to teach his boy not to use cigarettes. A swearing man is not qualified to teach his boy not to swear. Occasionally a child is saved from one or more of these vices by becoming utterly disgusted with the vice in his father. The child is an imitator. The child is quick to detect the difference between teaching and practice. One must practice what he teaches, if he expects his child or pupil to accept and follow his teaching.

If parents and teachers do not possess these qualifications, what should they do?—It is their duty to prepare themselves for this service. Under present social conditions, they are not qualified to be at the head of a family, or to teach children unless they have these qualifications. Those who have these responsibilities upon them and feel that they cannot at present effectively perform these duties can secure the services of others or they can place in the hands of a child or youth a safe and interesting book containing what the child needs to know.

If a child is told these delicate truths will he not tell other children about them?—That will depend upon the nature of the child, the way he has been trained and the tact used in telling the story of life. Some children have inherited a gossipy nature and some have been unfortunately trained. They would. But most children would not seek to inform other children; they would not seek this information from the vicious when they know they could obtain the truth from parents and teachers.

Extract from EBook of Self Knowledge and Guide to Sex Instruction, by T. W. Shannon

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April 19, 2020