. Aerial view of a golf cart bridge on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in The Villages, Florida. They know how to have fun and we all died, one scared grandchild wrote. One of the pervasive characteristics of sexually transmitted infections is that people turn them into a punchline, Finley said. And some retirees quickly rethought plans about where to spend the best years of their lives. The central Florida senior haven has fielded rumors about swingers and public sex for decades. Answer: If you think you may have an STD its important to see a healthcare provider right away. Thats compared to six in 10,000 seniors statewide. They do a lot but not to the point that theres STDs left and right and all over the place.. And while cases of chlamydia had risen in Lake County since 2000, the numbers remained flat in Sumter and Marion counties. Covering an area larger than Manhattan, The Villages spans three Florida counties Sumter, Marion and Lake. You do not have access to www.55places.com. The Villages the highest STD rate in the country,'" wrote Jan Schweitzer . Some residents wondered why Mark Morse, the developer who owns The Villages, hadnt spoken out to correct the record. The No. The Womens Center of The Villages is no longer open. All of them are tested for sexually transmitted diseases. We have 1,200 - 1,500 paid members each year . By collecting data from each state, they in turn provide a dynamic picture of the nations health as a whole. "I do believe The Villages area is in line with the rest of the state," Willis says. The Villages - The Villages, FL. Press | They simply saw an opportunity to ride the wave of popularity of all things Australian following the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee. STDs. There are a number of reasons why the STD rate is so high in the villages. In 2009, the New York Post called The Villages ground zero for geriatrics who are seriously getting it on.. Tallahassee, FL 32399-1716. While as in any county one can find cases of STDs, The Villages is in no way a top place for sexually transmitted diseases . A Village of Charlotte resident, in a Letter to the Editor, says the Havana Championship Golf Course is in terrible shape. "My doctor in Ohio even, when he asked where we spend time in Florida, stated . Highest rates. Its an easy headline. The Truth Behind the Urban Legend .For more data, I just moved here now I know where Im going to apply to to work LOL. 850-414-8103 Mailing Address. About Us | In The Villages, 86% of seniors are white, according to U.S. Census data. We have the largest Democratic Club in the entire State of Florida (by A LOT) and that is where you will make your friends. Florida Department of Health 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A19 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1716 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. It centered around the arrests of Villager Margaret Peggy Klemm and Summerfields David Alan Bobilya for engaging in sexual intercourse in the Pavilion at Lake Sumter Landing Market Square. Its irresistible no one wants to think about their parents having sex, but they love news articles about old people having sex. We are more worried about alligators than crabs here, typed Sean Donnelly. While statistics arent yet reflecting the trend, one physician at the Womens Center of The Villages said, even in her years working in Miami, she has never seen so many cases, the since-removed WFTV article reported. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. He puts on a wonderful act for people that, Medical WordPress Theme Copyright 2022 STDMonitor.com, Why is Floridas The Villages known as the STD capital of America?. 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. . Others believe it began with a joke on a radio station. 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. All of them are tested for sexually transmitted diseases. They weren't focusing on (sexually transmitted infections) and HIV. Cadence at Lansdowne is a brand new 55+ active adult community offering a vibrant lifestyle in Lansdowne, Virginia. Today 13 years after the gynecologist made the statement about STDs that unveiled a sexual revolution of sorts in The Villages and made worldwide headlines new Villagers still hear the rumors about promiscuity among their neighbors. Loofah sponges may clean your body but theyre apparently a sexy sign that people are getting down and dirty. Some say a disgruntled nurse hurled it as an insult. Venice, FL (34285) Today. What are some of the most common STDs in Florida? The Best States: Where Are Retirees Moving to? This really has nothing to do with concern about high STD rates it has to do with old people having sex, he said. Many Villagers agreed, noting theyve never heard the myth from someone living in the community. The study was conducted by researchers with Innerbody.com using statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seniors, Sex & STDs. 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. The rampant STD rumor about The Villages first erupted in 2006 after a gynecologist who had moved to the area . They do a lot but not to the point that theres STDs left and right and all over the place.. Annually the Florida Department of Health provides the federal government with statistical data collected though out our state in regards to sexually transmitted diseases and treatment. . The Villages, a mammoth retirement community, Documentary on the Villages shows it is not a utopia for everyone, CDC drops quarantine, distancing recommendations for COVID. In Central Florida, where The Villages and other retirement communities sprawl across several counties, reported cases of syphilis and chlamydia increased 71 percent among those 55 and older in that same period. Newsletter | Any publicity is good publicity.. The Villages in Florida is the world's largest retirement community and has been dubbed 'the Disney World for old people', but the antics of the residents who should know better would make Mickey . You're having sex with women that can't get pregnant anymore, and guess they're like why to use condoms. And they should be treated with respect, not as a caricature.. Any publicity is good publicity.. Hearsay is a dangerous thing. A Village of Monarch Grove resident, in a Letter to the Editor, pleads with officials not to change the dress code at golf courses. 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. The Villages, a mammoth retirement community that was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation two years ago, is no stranger to folklore. I hadn't even thought about this!! Classifieds | Without exception, every person Ive told I bought a house in The Villages has asked the same thing, Lafferty said. The reported cases of syphilis and chlamydia among older adults outpaced the nation's average, according to the analysis. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a college student, or even a civil group, below you can learn where to find data pertaining to STDs and the impact on your community. Residents hear the joke all too often. A Reddit thread from three years ago posted a helpful guide called Loofah Code as to what each color loofah represents. So like any town in the country, its going to have a certain number residents who sleep around and acquire STDs. In 2008, author Andrew D. Blechman released a book called Leisureville that told sordid tales of nightlife in The Villages. 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. TrackBack URL. In fact, looking at statistics from the Florida Department of Health, it is at the bottom for cases per 100,000 residents. I took my first photography class when I was 11. But perhaps no myth is more ubiquitous or more enduring than the idea of rampant rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Area with highest STD rate in every state. My friends who live in the community tell me this rumor is nothing more than an urban myth. STDs. 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. . Apparently, The Villages has been noted as having (one of) the highest rates of STD in the country! Fact or Myth: The Villages Is the STD Capital of the US? My grandmother lives in Florida. Im not saying that theyre not thinking about having sex, she added. Answer: Chlamydia gonorrhea syphilis and HIV are the most commonly reported STDs in Florida. But I wonder what is the color of 98 percent of those living in upscale retirement anywhere. However, by all accounts, it appears that the "STD Capital of the World" claim is overblown. Learn all about the #1 55 place with the retirement lifestyle you've been searching for right here in The Villages, Florida. TIL that Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, FL by four Americans who had never visited Australia. Let me tell you why: 1. The myth snowballed from there. The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that Florida is leading the nation in the number of new HIV infections, and has the third highest rate of infection, behind the District of Columbia and Georgia. Always go to the source like the FL Dept. Sexually transmitted infections are on the rise nationally in the wake of the pandemic. Many Villagers agreed, noting theyve never heard the myth from someone living in the community. In The Villages, 86% of seniors are white, according to U.S. Census data. 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. I feel like I have to justify to every single person I know that I didnt buy this place to chase women, said Lafferty, who is 69 and single. When barriers to health care are high, so are rates of sexually transmitted diseases, studies show. 1 book in nation before enthusiastic crowd in The Villages, Landlord in The Villages blames tenants in dispute over derelict homes, Villagers among Trump backers demonstrating at DeSantis book event in Leesburg, Sumter commissioners approve design contract for new sheriffs shooting range, Driver hospitalized after vehicle crashes through fence on County Road 466, DUI suspect blames intoxication on impending divorce, Circle K clerk accused of stealing lottery tickets and splitting winnings with friend. It may be older news, but the story behind The Villages Florida STD scandal still continues. You should also take precautions to protect yourself from STDs. Syphilis Rates in Florida. Privacy Policy. My stepmom begged a local group to let me into the adults-only class, and armed with a 35 mm disposable camera, I started my journey toward multimedia journalism. Leon County, FL . It cited two links that are no longer active, including the 2006 story. He was quoted as saying that neither he nor his colleagues had seen any kind of increase in STDs in the 5,000 patients they treated. Blechmans neighbors had moved to The Villages from New England and he paid them a visit. arrested and accused of having a sexual escapade on a utility box, Duke Energy warns of traffic delays due to movement of transformer, Ninety-year-old Villager gets 10th hole-in-one, Governor touts No. Rumors have persisted for years that prostitutes frequent Katie Belles at night to solicit retirees now calling The Villages home. Because theres so much shame associated with them.. 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. In the United States, sexually transmitted diseases carry salacious weight despite being remarkably common and highly treatable due to ongoing stigma, said Elizabeth Finley, spokesperson for the National Coalition of S.T.D. According to a 2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, males aged 65 and older had a 16.7 percent rise in syphilis diagnoses. We highlight the stories of Black Floridians seeking emotional healing and wellness. She says part of the reason infections are so high is because HIV isn't the death sentence it used to be. of Health. Among all age groups nationwide, reported cases of syphilis increased 60 . @media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) { 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. The findings concluded that STD rates continue to run rampant in the South, with nearly half of the top 25 cities with the highest STD rates in the South. } Early Retirement Can Be Hazardous to Your Health. That contrasts with Leon County, home to the capitol and Florida State U., where the rate is 370. Dave, who refused to give his real name, bragged about his sexual escapades with women in their 70s. Some people love gossip about old people and sex.. Many of her patients come seeking testosterone therapy to improve their sex lives. Residents hear the joke all too often. Read his Letter to the Editor. But both served to fuel the rumor of promiscuity and wild times in The Villages, which by then was frequently being referred to as a quasi-college-like town for seniors who wanted to play hard and party even harder. 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 . New Rules Push Back RMD Start, Reduce Penalties. "A lot of the testing sites shut down, Finkelstein said. It appeared over the years everywhere from the New York Post to the Daily Mail. Florida identified 4,584 new HIV diagnoses, according to the most recent data available from the federal agencys HIV surveillance report, which collected data from 2015 to 2019. This may include medication lifestyle changes or both. Answer: Theres no reason to be embarrassed about getting tested for STDs. A moderator disabled comments on the post within days. But that isnt the case. "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. . FOX 35 Orlando. The Villages Florida reviews like this guide present . So the loofa is an easy way for them to spot it from a distance, user gatordent said. .kxikc63ffb4b933c33 { Often, the stories seized on signs that The Villagers were engaging in casual sex or dating, wielding them as evidence of heavy transmission within the retirement community. 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