Surgery for Back Pain Boosts Sex Life

Your sex life is an important part of who you are. It connects you to your partner and makes you feel vibrant and alive. Unfortunately, back pain can get in the way of a healthy sex life. If you find yourself turning sex down because of back pain, it might be time for surgery. According to a study published by Wolters Kluwer, surgery for back pain can boost your sex life by eliminating pain during sex. This might be just what you need to feel like yourself again.

Study Participants

For the study, the researchers combed through data from the Spine Outcomes Research Trial. Out of the approximately 2,500 people who participated in the trial, 825 stated that sexual function was relevant. Researchers from Wolters Kluwer examined these trial participants to see if their sex lives improved after treatment.

Treatments were selected at random for trial participants. Those who agreed to participate were randomly assigned to receive surgical or nonsurgical treatments for degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis. Out of the 825 people who stated that sexual function was relevant, 531 had surgery and 294 received another type of treatment.

The Impact on Sex Lives

Participants were questioned about their sex lives both before and after treatment. Before the treatment, 55 percent of participants said they experienced pain during sex. In some cases, the pain was minor, while in other cases, it was more significant.

Then, the patients underwent their treatment and were questioned again. This is when researchers realized the power of surgery.

According to researchers, approximately 40 percent of the patients who did not receive surgery said they still had pain after treatment. That means that almost 40 percent of the patients weren’t able to get their sex lives back after treatment.

Those who had surgery fared much better. Less than 20 percent of those people said they still had pain during sex.

You might think that the relief was short lived, but that isn’t the case. Researchers followed up with the patients for four years, and the results held steady. This shows the power of surgery when it comes to back surgery.

Will Any Surgery Work?

During the study, patients received a spinal decompression or a spinal fusion. It turns out that the spinal decompression provided better results regarding sex lives than the fusion did. While the fusion did help, those who underwent a spinal decompression were less likely to experience pain during sex. Still, it is important for people to talk to a professional to find out which surgery is right for them.

It is becoming clear that people who have back pain have the chance to have normal sex lives once again. Once they get their sex lives back, they often feel more vibrant, alive, and confident.  If your back pain is getting in the way of your sex life, contact the Advanced Spine Center. Schedule an appointment or get more information about how surgery can help you enjoy sex once again. An appointment is the first step in taking control of your sex life.