Study: Many Women Report Improved Sex Life After Hip Surgery

Many women who undergo reconstructive hip surgery report an improved sex life after surgery, but complain that the subject was widely overlooked by their physicians before the procedure, according to a study reported in the Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Swiss researchers from University Hospital in Geneva studied 60 women who had undergone reconstructive hip surgery at an average age of 44 years and who agreed to fill out a questionnaire with their partners regarding their sex lives after surgery.

The surgery in 50 percent of the women was due to osteoarthritis, in 33 percent due to hip dysplasia and in the rest for rheumatoid polyarthritis or avascular necrosis.

The researchers found that 72 percent of the women had a marked decrease in hip pain during sexual intercourse, while 86 percent reported the same or increased hip mobility.

The quality of sexual relations after surgery improved for 30 percent of the patients and stayed the same for 50 percent, the researchers reported. However, 80 percent of women and their partners felt the information received regarding sexual activities and pregnancy postoperatively was woefully inadequate.

The type of information that the women were looking for from their physicians included length of time to abstain from intercourse after surgery, and safety and timing of becoming pregnant.

"Physicians must not overlook the benefit that reconstructive hip surgery and, particularly, total hip arthroplasty conveys to the sexual life of the younger woman afflicted with hip disease," the researchers concluded. "In addition, physicians must strive to provide better information to these women and their respective partners."

Other sources: Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2003;4:1:21-25