Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Total hip arthroplasty and sexual activity: a systematic review

  • Review
  • Published:
MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hip discomfort due to degenerative pathologies causes limitations in the everyday activities of patients, including sexual activity. To address such limitations, patients are usually treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the success of this surgical procedure to ameliorate sexual activity of patients. We performed a comprehensive research of four electronic databases for articles pertaining to the benefits of THA on sexual activity. Exclusion criteria included articles not in English. The search initially yielded 34 articles. Two authors subsequently read all abstracts and excluded all studies unrelated to the topic, leaving 16 articles for further evaluation. Sixteen articles filtered by orthopaedic departments were included in this review. A total of 2391 patients were considered. Pre- and postoperative reports on sexual concerns have been evaluated and compared. The current literature suggests that sexual life is improved after THA. Patient education regarding postoperative expectations and resumption of sexual activity is severely lacking and the majority of surgeons offer little or no information on the subject. Specifically designed studies on the subject are required to evaluate the effects of surgery and approaches on postoperative restrictions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Currey HL (1970) Osteoarthrosis of the hip joint and sexual activity. Ann Rheum Dis 29(5):488–493

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Laffosse JM, Tricoire JL, Chiron P et al (2008) Sexual function before and after primary total hip arthroplasty. Joint Bone Spine 75(2):189–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Rodriquez JARD (2013) Sexual function improves significantly after THR or TKR. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 42(4):154

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kurtz SM, Ong KL, Lau E et al (2014) Impact of the economic downturn on total joint replacement demand in the United States: updated projections to 2021. J Bone Joint Surg Am 96(8):624–630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lindau ST, Gavrilova N (2010) Sex, health, and years of sexually active life gained due to good health: evidence from two US population based cross sectional surveys of ageing. BMJ 340:c810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. World Health Organization (WHO) (2002). Defining sexual health: report of a technical consultation on sexual health. Accessed Oct 15, 2017

  7. Wall PD, Hossain M, Ganapathi M et al (2011) Sexual activity and total hip arthroplasty: a survey of patients' and surgeons' perspectives. Hip Int 21(2):199–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Dahm DL, Jacofsky D, Lewallen DG (2004) Surgeons rarely discuss sexual activity with patients after THA: a survey of members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. Clin Orthop Relat Res 428:237–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Charbonnier C, Chague S, Ponzoni M, Bernardoni M et al (2014) Sexual activity after total hip arthroplasty: a motion capture study. J Arthroplasty 29(3):640–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Todd RC, Lightowler CD, Harris J (1973) Low friction arthroplasty of the hip joint and sexual activity. Acta Orthop Scand 44(6):690–693

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wiklund I, Romanus B (1991) A comparison of quality of life before and after arthroplasty in patients who had arthrosis of the hip joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am 73(5):765–769

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nordentoft T, Schou J, Carstensen J (2000) Changes in sexual behavior after orthopedic replacement of hip or knee in elderly males—a prospective study. Int J Impot Res 12(3):143–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Stern SH, Fuchs MD, Ganz SB et al (1991) Sexual function after total hip arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res 269:228–235

    Google Scholar 

  14. Yoon BH, Lee KH, Noh S et al (2013) Sexual activity after total hip replacement in Korean patients: how they do, what they want, and how to improve. Clin Orthop Surg 5(4):269–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zahi SML, Tounsi J, Lmidmani F et al (2017) Sexual activity before and after total hip arthroplasty. Int Phys Med Rehab J 1(3):00014

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nunley RM, Nam D, Bashyal RK et al (2015) The impact of total joint arthroplasty on sexual function in young, active patients. J Arthroplasty 30(2):335–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Grossi G, Soares JJF, Lundberg U (2000) Gender differences in coping with musculoskeletal pain. Int J Behav Med 7(4):305–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. MacKay C, Webster F, Venkataramanan V et al (2017) A prospective cohort study examining medical and social factors associated with engagement in life activities following total hip replacement. Osteoarthr Cartil 25:1032–1039

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Meyer H, Stern R, Fusetti C et al (2003) Sexual quality-of-life after hip surgery. J Orthop Traumatol 4(1):21–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Demos HA, Rorabeck CH, Bourne RB et al (2001) Instability in primary total hip arthroplasty with the direct lateral approach. Clin Orthop Relat Res 393:168–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Morrey BF (1992) Instability after total hip arthroplasty. Orthop Clin North Am 23(2):237–248

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Third Department of Orthopaedics, Metropolitan General Hospital, 264 Mesogeion Avenue, 15562, Holargos, Athens, Greece

    E. M. Neonakis

  2. IRCCS - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy

    F. Perna, F. Traina, O. Faldini & C. Faldini

  3. Department of Orthopaedics, “Evangelismos” General Hospital, Athens, Greece

    G. Antoniou

  4. Department of Orthopaedics, “Giorgos Gennimatas” General Hospital, Athens, Greece

    G. Kyriakopoulos

  5. Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    I. K. Triantafyllopoulos

  6. International Center for Hip, Knee and Foot Surgery, ATOS Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    P. D. Megaloikonomos

Authors
  1. E. M. Neonakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Perna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Traina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. O. Faldini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Antoniou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. Kyriakopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. I. K. Triantafyllopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. P. D. Megaloikonomos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. C. Faldini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. M. Neonakis.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors of this study declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Neonakis, E.M., Perna, F., Traina, F. et al. Total hip arthroplasty and sexual activity: a systematic review. Musculoskelet Surg 104, 17–24 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-020-00645-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-020-00645-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation