Pain During Sex Before and After Decompressive Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Multicenter Observational Study

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2021 Oct 1;46(19):1354-1361. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000004008.

Abstract

Study design: Observational multicenter study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pain during sexual activity after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Summary of background data: There are limited data available on sexual function in patients undergoing surgery for LSS.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery. The primary outcome was change in pain during sexual activity at 1 year, assessed by item number eight of the Oswestry disability index questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures included Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQol-5D, and numeric rating scale scores for back and leg pain.

Results: Among the 12,954 patients included, 9908 (76.5%) completed 1-year follow-up. At baseline 9579 patients (73.9%) provided information about pain during sexual activity, whereas 7424 (74.9%) among those with complete follow-up completed this item. Preoperatively 2528 of 9579 patients (26.4%) reported a normal sex-life without pain compared with 4294 of 7424 patients (57.8%) at 1 year. Preoperatively 1007 (10.5%) patients reported that pain prevented any sex-life, compared with 393 patients (5.3%) at 1 year. At baseline 7051 of 9579 patients (73.6%) reported that sexual activity caused pain, and among these 3145 of 4768 responders (66%) reported an improvement at 1 year. A multivariable regression analysis showed that having a life partner, college education, and working until time of surgery were predictors of improvement in pain during sexual activity. Current tobacco smoking, pain duration >12 months, previous spine surgery, and complications occurring within 3 months were negative predictors.

Conclusion: This study clearly demonstrates that a large proportion of patients undergoing surgery for LSS experienced an improvement in pain during sexual activity at 1 year.Level of Evidence: 2.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Decompression, Surgical
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Pain
  • Pain Measurement
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Spinal Stenosis* / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome