Thats compared to six in 10,000 seniors statewide. Today, the Villages isn't so much a retirement community as an empire, a collection of dozens of neighborhoods covering more than 32 square miles spread over three counties, with the bulk in . And he spoke with a woman who was balancing a pencil between her breasts that claimed to work for a local medical center where cases of STDs were out of control. Florida Department of Health in Lake County Address: 2113 West Griffin Road Leesburg, FL 34748 Number: (352) 360-6548. The Villages has often declined to comment on rumors, but the reports have circulated in local and national media for years. What happens if I dont get treated for an STD? Slides with selected figures, data points, a five year summary table, and technical notes are available. Since then many people, especially those who live in and/or promote The Villages, have done their best to set the record straight. Mailing Address. Answer: If left untreated STDs can cause serious health problems like infertility cancer and even death. The central Florida retirement community was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation just a couple, Theyre called survivor cities places where residents may not yet have been personally touched by gun violence but the threat continually remains that they might. Susan Finkelstein is a registered nurse and medical education services manager for EPIC Sexual Health Center in St. Petersburg. This is a sprawling set of retirement neighborhoods with access to over 3,000 activities and clubs, plus an astounding 50+ golf courses. Read his Letter to the Editor. My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country, wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. All the retirees drive similar cars and old gran cant go around the whole parking lot looking for her car. Similarly for rates of chlamydia, the overall rate for Florida is 525.5 while Leon Countys is 1147 and Sumters 157. Since the 2000s, lawmakers have reallocated money for sexual health, a move that experts often credit with contributing to a nationwide spike. While sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis are surging nationwide, much of this nascent spread is among adults in their teens and 20s, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Wesl Few towns in the Southeast offer more gracious charm than Aiken, South Carolina. THE VILLAGES, Fla. Friends up north and across Tampa Bay snickered when Brian Lafferty revealed where hed bought a new home. Blechman, the author of Leisureville, suspected ageism plays a role. Free Baby Boomers Guide | Back in 2006, two Orlando news stations released reports describing an increase in the number of STDs diagnosed at a retirement community known as The Villages. Some residents wondered why Mark Morse, the developer who owns The Villages, hadnt spoken out to correct the record. The Womens Center of The Villages is no longer open. And the percentage of older adults living in poverty is slightly lower than the national rate, suggesting its retirees may have better access to health care than the country as a whole. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, and . With all the publicity it received, how much of it is actually true? } The Villages, outside Orlando, Florida are manufactured to be a retirement fantasyland. Answer: If you test positive for an STD your healthcare provider will work with you to develop a treatment plan. Now, it's kind of like, I'll just go take a pill every day. Privacy | Highest rates. Its an easy headline. People of color, LGBTQ people and women experience disproportionately high rates of sexually transmitted diseases due to social determinants of health that are more likely to impact marginalized groups. The 10 cities with the highest STD rates per 100,000 people, . STDs. The Best States: Where Are Retirees Moving to? (STDs), Rate Per 100,000 Population, 2021. I think theres a little bit of jealousy from the outside, said Christine Wynne, a 50-year-old resident. It had legs, said Andrew Blechman, author of Leisureville: Adventures in a World Without Children, a 2009 book on life in The Villages that is referenced in almost all coverage of this issue. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. But most trace it to a 2006 television news story Doctors in Retirement Community Seeing Increase in STDs.. And it pointed out that with 80,000 residents in the community at the time, it should come as no surprise that a certain percentage would be interested in things like alcohol and sex. Where did this pervasive legend start? @media screen and (max-width: 767px) { "When people saw it as a fearful thing, because it was a life-threatening disease, they tended to be a little bit more cautious, Finkelstein said. The myth snowballed from there. Data & Statistics. But most trace it to a 2006 television news story Doctors in Retirement Community Seeing Increase in STDs.. Learn all about the #1 55 place with the retirement lifestyle you've been searching for right here in The Villages, Florida. A Village of Santiago resident takes on critics of Villages-News.com who are upset that a Tesla was identified as a vehicle involved in a crash with a motorcyclist. Neither story had anything to do with STDs. Purple is for those who like to watch. In reality, I dont see much STDs, said Villa, who has worked in The Villages almost two decades. Answer: According to the CDC the Sunshine State has the second highest rate of chlamydia and the fourth highest rate of gonorrhea in the country. "My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated . As talk of Blechmans book circulated throughout the community and Villagers made a run on local bookstores to get a copy, the second whammy came to life. Although no cities in Florida made the top 10, Tallahassee came the closest at No. Roy Rowlett wrote: It doesnt matter what the truth is. Privacy Policy. For a broader range of data other than the State of Florida, visit the CDC Sexually Transmitted Diseases Statistics page. And South Florida saw a 60 percent rise in those two . HIV can be managed long term with medication, but it can still be transmitted via unprotected sex or by sharing needles. "We . But perhaps no myth is more ubiquitous or more enduring than the idea of rampant rates of sexually transmitted diseases. They do a lot but not to the point that theres STDs left and right and all over the place.. Communities | It may be older news, but the story behind The Villages Florida STD scandal still continues. "My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated 'Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country,'" wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. Pensacola ranks No. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. But its important to note that the sprawling community is in a heavy growth mode and is now home to more than 125,000 people. According to statistics provided by the Florida Department of Health, the three counties which make up The VillagesSumter, Lake, and Marionall have bacterial STD infection rates well below the state average for adults over the age of 55. February 5, 2021 Any time the subject of The Villages (TV) in Central Florida comes up in conversation, the chances are that someone will chime in with the tidbit that the popular active community is the STD capital of the US. Sometimes, they cited data about the states rising rates of sexually transmitted infections among seniors as proof that the same held true in The Villages. Oh, you dont want to move there, theres STDs. Its utopia here. . Blechman then spent time in The Villages and claims to have been at several hotspots and watched seniors swap phone numbers or leave together for the evening. As for the alledged STD rate, see the "Highest std rate?" section above, where the topic was rejected long ago as an urban legend. Another reason for the high STD rate in the villages is that there is a lot of unprotected sex taking place. The Womens Center of The Villages is no longer open. Its safe, and everyones happy. It cited two links that are no longer active, including the 2006 story. A primary care physician in the community with ties to The Villages brass did his part to kill the urban myth about rampant STDs in the mega retirement community. } You're having sex with women that can't get pregnant anymore, and guess they're like why to use condoms. One reason is that the villages are a popular tourist destination. } The rampant STD rumor about The Villages first erupted in 2006 after a gynecologist who had moved to the area stated that shed treated more cases of herpes and human papillomavirus in The Villages than when she practiced in Miami. Similarly for rates of chlamydia, the overall rate for Florida is 525.5 while Leon Countys is 1147 and Sumters 157. The latest local, regional and national news events are presented by the Local 10 News Team along with updated sports, weather and traffic. Escambia County's 2020 STD rate per 100,000 was 30% higher than Florida average and has exceeded the state average every year dating back to the 2006. . My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country, wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. Roy Rowlett wrote: It doesnt matter what the truth is. Aerial view of a golf cart bridge on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in The Villages, Florida. The Villages is a popular retirement golf cart loving community. It had legs, said Andrew Blechman, author of Leisureville: Adventures in a World Without Children, a 2009 book on life in The Villages that is referenced in almost all coverage of this issue. FOX 35 Orlando. 1 city on the list was Baltimore, Maryland followed by Jackson, Mississippi and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Orlando came in at No. Other colors, including teal, are apparently reserved for those who identify as bisexual. It's where you can ha Cresswind Wesley Chapel is a vibrant, brand new 55+ active adult community Located just 40 minutes from Charlotte City Center. Others believe it began with a joke on a radio station. Chlamydia Cases. Had you heard the accounts of The Villages as the STD capital? .kxikc63ffb4b933c33 { The Seniors Health article also said that the majority of people living in The Villages wouldnt be affected by STDs even if an issue existed in the first place. #18. But perhaps no myth is more ubiquitous or more enduring than the idea of rampant rates of sexually transmitted diseases. This means that people from all over the world come to the villages and they may be bringing STDs with them. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties were listed as among 48 areas of concern nationally based on infection rates. Some say a disgruntled nurse hurled it as an insult. If you are planning to visit the villages you should be aware of the risks. In fact, about 30% of all cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and primary and secondary syphilis were among non . New Rules Push Back RMD Start, Reduce Penalties. She says part of the reason infections are so high is because HIV isn't the death sentence it used to be. A state Department of Health official declined to parse out the agencys data on a more granular level, such as a census-designated place like The Villages, citing privacy concerns. Im not saying that theyre not thinking about having sex, she added. The same patterns emerged for diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV, among Floridas older adults. Answer: The best way to protect yourself from STDs is by using condoms every time you have sex. The year was 2006 and a Villages gynecologist was about to make a serious dent in the image of Floridas Friendliest Hometown one that wasnt going to be welcomed with open arms. In Sumter County, where 80% of the population is from The Villages, the infection rate is 39. 14. Between 2011 and 2015, reported rates of acute hepatitis B increased by 91 percent and rates of acute hepatitis C increased by 100 . Rates of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia among people 55 and older have slightly trended upwards in these counties since 2006, the year the myth about The Villages is believed to have begun. } You do not have access to www.55places.com. While as in any county one can find cases of STDs, The Villages is in no way a top place for sexually transmitted diseases. Blechman also told the exploits of a 63-year-old bachelor known as Mr. Covering an area larger than Manhattan, The Villages spans three Florida counties Sumter, Marion and Lake. Highest rates. Its an easy headline. TrackBack URL. And the doctor was never named. Its irresistible no one wants to think about their parents having sex, but they love news articles about old people having sex. Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise nationally in the wake of the pandemic. In 2019 the States overall rate of infection for gonorrhea was 175 per 100,000 population. Rates of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia among people 55 and older have slightly trended upwards in these counties since 2006, the year the myth about The . My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated Oh, The Villages the highest STD rate in the country, wrote Jan Schweitzer on the post. Syphilis Rates in Florida. February 18, 2016, 8:49 AM . Everyone chuckles and they move on. } I think that fueled some of those rumors.. The Villages Florida reviews like this guide present . Isnt that the STD capital of the United States?. Marion and Lake bore similar trends. In 2009, the New York Post called The Villages ground zero for geriatrics who are seriously getting it on.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Im scared Ill find out I have an STD. Answer: If you think your partner has an STD its important to talk to them about it. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, The Villages Word of Mouth, was revealing. display: block; Speaking of fun, there have been rumors that The Villages Florida has the highest rate of STD (sexually transmitted diseases)in the United States of America. Despite a 14-year-old urban legend that won't go away, The Villages didn't make the list of the worst cities for sexually transmitted diseases.. That distinction belongs to Baltimore, Maryland - the 26th largest city in the United States with a population of about 602,495 - which had the highest per capita rate with 2,004 cases reported per 100,000 residents, according to statistics . People who are older are just people who are older. New York, and Maryland saw the highest instance of STIs among populations 55 and older with an average STI rate per 100,000 at 881.8, 236.2, and 172.7 respectively. TikToker Tora Himan posted the 28-second clip, with the viral Dubskie song, Oh No Oh No Oh No No No, showcasing residents of the Villages community purchasing the multicolored shower scrubbers to hang on the roofs of their cars and golf carts with the caption, They are everywhere!. Hearsay is a dangerous thing. Between 1995 and 2005, reported cases of gonorrhea climbed from 152 to 245, syphilis cases rose from 17 to 33 and chlamydia skyrocketed from 52 to 115. Spread of sexually transmitted diseases among older adults in Florida tended to be higher in counties with major cities and large Black and Latino populations, state data suggest, such as Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. 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