In a Letter to the Editor, a Village of Santo Domingo woman wonders why there is only one movie theater open in The Villages. The Best States: Where Are Retirees Moving to? 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. Orlando came in at No. 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. Williamstown , New Jersey: Guy Luongo Gaetano Luongo. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. 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. Half of all infections are among people 15 to 24. Answer: The only way to know for sure if you have an STD is to get tested by a healthcare provider. As a result, the place that likes to bill itself as Americas Friendliest Hometown has seen a huge increase in sexually transmitted diseases, according to a 2013 Slate article referencing the tabloids coverage. Do you have any other pet urban legends that should be dispelled? Answer: If you think your partner has an STD its important to talk to them about it. 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. Compared to Florida overall, however, the three counties containing The Villages tended to have significantly lower rates. It cited two links that are no longer active, including the 2006 story. We're having Syphilis up 52%. 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. In fact, looking at statistics from the Florida Department of Health, it is at the bottom for cases per 100,000 residents. The Villages has often declined to comment on rumors, but the reports have circulated in local and national media for years. The high STD rate in the villages is a cause for concern. Answer: The best way to protect yourself from STDs is by using condoms every time you have sex. 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. With a focus on fitness, relationships, Cresswind Charleston is Charleston-area's BEST active adult lifestyle community. But so have sexually transmitted disease rates everywhere. Gonorrhea Instances 4,971. . highest std rate college in virginia. Rumors have persisted for years that prostitutes frequent Katie Belles at night to solicit retirees now calling The Villages home. Thats compared to six in 10,000 seniors statewide. ORLANDO, Fla. - A new study ranks Orlando, Gainesville, and Jacksonville among the top 100 list of U.S. cities for sexually transmitted diseases. But rumors travel fast in communities with shared values and histories. Give us a few moments to clear this up. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, The Villages Word of Mouth, was revealing. Disparities also persist in rates of reported STDs among some racial minority or Hispanic groups when compared with rates among non-Hispanic whites, according to the CDC. As a result, the place that likes to bill itself as Americas Friendliest Hometown has seen a huge increase in sexually transmitted diseases, according to a 2013 Slate article referencing the tabloids coverage. But is the worlds largest retirement community about 80 miles northeast of Tampa really a hotbed for these diseases? A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, The Villages Word of Mouth, was revealing. Some people love gossip about old people and sex.. One Redditor, who claims to have worked at the Villages for three years, suggests the loofahs simply help residents find their own vehicles since all the retirees drive similar cars., The reason for the loofas is simple, its so they can find their car. But perhaps no myth is more ubiquitous or more enduring than the idea of rampant rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Why upset that a Tesla was named in a crash report? Roy Rowlett wrote: It doesnt matter what the truth is. All of them are tested for sexually transmitted diseases. WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | He became confused and expressed outrage over their decision to live in a gated community of close to 100,000 people with no children. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Itll never go away.. I bought it because I want to play golf.. . And if you do have an STD the sooner you get treated the better. The myth snowballed from there. 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. 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. } THE VILLAGES, Fla. Friends up north and across Tampa Bay snickered when Brian Lafferty revealed where hed bought a new home. Should T-shirts be allowed on The Villages golf courses? And he accompanies Mr. It claimed that the ratio of women to men in the community was 10 to 1. Thats compared to six in 10,000 seniors statewide. And will it ever go away? A lot of the outreach dried up, and a lot of the disease intervention specialists from the health department, etc. The Best Walkable Places to Retire in South Carolina, Rising Popularity of ADUs a Blessing for Retirees, More Tales of Downsizing and the Household Negotiations Involved. Its safe, and everyones happy. campus, but for seniors. My grandmother lives in Florida. 'STDs. } When barriers to health care are high, so are rates of sexually transmitted diseases, studies show. The Innerbody study breaks down the top 100 cities with the highest STD rates, and Baltimore and D.C. both made the top 20. Im embarrassed to get tested for STDs. 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. Compared to other practitioners, I should. Classifieds | They do a lot but not to the point that theres STDs left and right and all over the place.. February 18, 2016, 8:49 AM . } If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526. During an interview, the OB-GYN reported that shed treated more cases of herpes and human papillomavirus at The Villages than she did when she practiced in Miami. FOX 35 Orlando. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, The Villages Word of Mouth, was revealing. They do a lot but not to the point that theres STDs left and right and all over the place.. 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. Residents from the Florida retirement complex the Villages, which The Post reported on in 2009 as being a wild retirees getaway, have been caught on video displaying loofahs on their cars, allegedly to distinguish their swinging sexual styles. In 2009, the New York Post called The Villages ground zero for geriatrics who are seriously getting it on.. Some residents wondered why Mark Morse, the developer who owns The Villages, hadnt spoken out to correct the record. What should I do? The rampant STD rumor about The Villages first erupted in 2006 after a gynecologist who had moved to the area . An Edward R. Murrow Award-winning series explores the high costs of the pandemic for children and young adults. Let me tell you why: 1. But perhaps no myth is more ubiquitous or more enduring than the idea of rampant rates of sexually transmitted diseases. 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. Press | Because theres so much shame associated with them.. "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. In reality, I dont see much STDs, said Villa, who has worked in The Villages almost two decades. Many of her patients come seeking testosterone therapy to improve their sex lives. 00:00 - Do the Villages in Florida have a high STD rate?00:40 - Does the villages have the highest rate of STDS?01:11 - Can you rent at The Villages in Flori. 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 Villages is America's premier Active Adult Retirement Community located in sunny central Florida. Where did this pervasive legend start? Compared to other practitioners, I should. Old People. Baltimore, America's #1 city with the highest STD rates, reportedly has . } Blechman, the author of Leisureville, suspected ageism plays a role. Active Adult Communities | 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. . Residents hear the joke all too often. Over 18 of the 27-hole course provides elevated scenery at the highest points of Sumter County. A Tampa Bay Times inquiry on the 38,000-member Facebook group, "The Villages Word of Mouth," was revealing. 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. Covering an area larger than Manhattan, The Villages spans three Florida counties Sumter, Marion and Lake. Answer: If left untreated STDs can cause serious health problems like infertility cancer and even death. Join Us | "Tallahassee has two major universities and a community college which accounts . All of them are tested for sexually transmitted diseases. 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