Ask any elder how old he or she feels on the inside when awakening, still relaxed and comfortable after a good night's sleep. You will hear ages of 18 to late 20s, thus proving there's a youngster inside that aging external packaging, and that young person is still interested in romance and passion.

Seniors continue to enjoy kissing, petting, flirting, and romance--all of which are a part of a great sexual relationship. Seniors with a partner hope for a loving relationship where they walk hand in hand into the sunset as they get older. Add a little sex along the way and it doesn't get better than that.

Walter M. Bortz II, M.D., in his book, DARE To Be 100, cites a survey of men over 70 who belonged to the Fifty-Plus Fitness Association: average age, 75; 58 percent of the men rated their sex lives as good or very good; another 23 percent fair; and only 19 percent reported their sex lives as poor. Compare this to the original Kinsey report that revealed that 55 percent of 75-year-old men were impotent. Bortz believes that fitness made the difference. In addition, he writes that fitness after menopause contributes to an older woman's sense of confidence, health and independence. For a large number of women, the quality of their sexual lives improves after menopause.

For both men and women, Bortz says, "Good sex is good for your health. Good health is good for your sexuality."

Constance Schrader in her book, Beyond 50: The Road Ahead, states that by 50 years of age, at least 90 percent of men will have had at least one experience of impotence. Medications are often the problem, and in a high percentage of cases the impotence can be corrected. She notes that many women after menopause have heightened interest in sex, but may also suffer vaginal dryness, which also can be easily reversed by over-the-counter lubricants. Seniors can have sex well into their 90s, she assures us.

Medical researchers are warning that the rates of AIDS (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are increasing rapidly among American seniors. It is thought that sexually active seniors have missed the messages aimed at younger people over the past 20 years. As a result of the high increases, there are now calls for safe sex ads to be specifically directed at seniors in an attempt to get the alarming rates under control. Tessa Harding from Help the Aged says that there is little public or professional recognition of the sexual health of older people.

A survey by the American Social Health Association confirms that a large number of people fail to use protection regularly. This has serious implications for women. Sherry Marts, Ph.D., of the Society for Women's Health Research in Washington, D.C., says, "Biologically, women are more susceptible due to larger genital mucosal surface exposed during intercourse."

Too often symptoms aren't apparent in women or they don't appear at all. Many women don't seek medical attention until severe problems have occurred. STDs can be caused by viruses and include herpes, HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B; or by bacteria and include chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. New variants of the bacterial STDs have become invulnerable to standard antibiotic treatments, and these pose a more serious threat.

Unfortunately, physicians are often not comfortable taking sexual histories from older patients and may attribute their STD symptoms to other diseases, according to James Allen, M.D., of the American Social Health Association. Also contributing to the spread of STDs is the easy availability of drugs for impotence (erectile dysfunction) and their wide use as mere performance enhancement.

Open communication with partners, knowing how to use a condom correctly and consistently, and getting tested for STDs can lower a senior's risk of contracting these diseases.

Impotence is more properly referred to as erectile dysfunction and should not be confused with loss of libido, premature ejaculation or inability to achieve orgasm. Erectile dysfunction is thought to affect more than 25 percent of men who are 50-plus. However, aging itself is not the cause of this condition. In 90 percent of cases, the cause is a physiological one, for example, athrosclerosis, diabetes, hypothyroidism or the use of alcohol, tobacco or certain prescription drugs (antihistamines, tranquilizers, etc.). Stress, depression or performance anxiety can be psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.

Male concerns about the declining strength of orgasms and longer recovery times required as they age are frequently heard by medical experts. But, noting that one of the most common complaints about men is that they are "too fast," Sandor Gardos, Ph.D., in WebMD Medical News, advised his aging male audience: "I can assure you that there is no 18-year-old on the planet whose lovemaking skills can begin to approach those of a more mature man like yourself."

As we are told in cherished tunes of old, "You're Not Getting Older, You're Getting Better" and "The Older the Violin, the Sweeter the Music."