Posterior lumbar fusion surgery doesn't change sexual activities in patients with lumbar degenerative disease: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies about sexual function in the patient with posterior lumbar spinal fusion for degenerative lumbar disease. The aim of this study is to investigate sexual activities in patients with lumbar degenerative disease before and after lumbar fusion surgery. METHODS: We recruited 35 patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion at the age of 55 years or younger. They were 17 men and 18 women with a mean age of 47.4 years. After informed consent, the patients were asked to complete anonymous questionnaire concerning sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction before and after surgery. RESULTS: In the presick period, 69% of the patients had sexual desire, and 79% achieved satisfaction during sexual activity. Lumbar degenerative disease decreased sexual desire and frequency of sexual activity in 40%, and 74% respectively. Before surgery, satisfaction in sexual activities decreased in 53%, and 55% of the patients felt discomfort during sexual activity. Adjustment in sexual position was required in 44% of man and 54% of woman. After surgery, Sexual desire, frequency of sexual activity and satisfaction did not regain after surgery in 94%, 93% and 92%, respectively. Those who did not feel discomfort after surgery was significantly lower VAS in both low back pain and leg pain than the patients felt discomfort (low back pain; p = 0.024, leg pain; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that lumbar degenerative diseases decreased sexual desire, frequency of sexual activity and satisfaction, and little of the patients regained their sexual activities after posterior lumbar fusion surgery in the middle-aged patients.

How does surgery affect sexual desire and activities in patients with lumbar disc herniation?

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective survey using privacy-conscious questionnaires. OBJECTIVE: To determine the quality and frequency of sexual activities in patients with lumbar disc herniation before and after surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients and health care professionals often hesitate to talk about the effects of disease, illness, or surgery on sexuality, but it is imperative that sexuality issues be addressed. METHODS: Of 90 consecutive patients, 64 who had surgically-treated lumbar disc herniation participated in this survey after informed consent. There were 43 males and 21 females with mean age of 36 years. Duration of symptom was averaged 42 weeks. The patients were asked to complete questionnaires concerning sexual desire, activity, adjustment, and satisfaction. About 83% of the patients had sexual desire, and 89% achieved satisfaction during sexual activities in presick period. RESULTS: Lumbar disc herniation decreased sexual desire in 50% and frequency of sexual activity in 59% of the patients. About 67% of males and 81% of females felt discomfort during sexual activity; satisfaction decreased in 28% of male and 41% of females. Adjustment in sexual position was required in 54% of males and 86% of females. Surgery improved sexual desire, frequency of sexual activity, and satisfaction in 85%, 88%, and 94%, respectively. However, 31% of females did not regain sexual desire and 46% still felt discomfort during sexual activity (the rates were 7% and 17% in males, respectively). Sexual activity was resumed within 2 postoperative weeks in 23% (27% in males and 14% in females), and 4 weeks in 53%. Males resumed sexual activity earlier than females. CONCLUSION: Lumbar disc herniation largely impacted sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction. Adjustment in sexual position was required in large number of patients to avoid discomfort during sexual activities. Surgical treatment improved quality of sexual activities, but more females did not regain sexual desire, felt sexual discomfort, and thereby resumed sexual activities later than males after surgery.