With fear of pregnancy a non-issue among octogenarians, individuals might not even be considering that "safe sex" is not just about preventing an unwanted pregnancy but among seniors is about protecting against STIs. They may have come into their sexual primes in a free-loving, pre-AIDS era, long before concerns about HIV/AIDS entered public consciousness and education about barrier methods hit mainstream discussion.

Older people are also increasingly healthier, and there is a strong association between physical health and remaining sexually active. With older folks donning their downward dogs and killing it at the local CrossFit box, combined with readily available medications (for men) and over-the-counter lubes to assist with the mechanics, older people are more likely to feel sexually invincible.