Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026
In Vivo Quantification of Hip Arthrokinematics during Dynamic Weight-bearing Activities using Dual Fluoroscopy
Published on: July 2, 2021
Sexual difficulties and total hip replacement in rheumatoid arthritis
Insights
Total hip replacement significantly improved sexual difficulties caused by rheumatoid arthritis hip pain for most patients. While surgery resolved hip-related sexual issues for many, other health problems persisted for some, impacting sexual function.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Rheumatology
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently causes hip pain and stiffness, potentially impacting patients' quality of life.
- Sexual dysfunction is a common but often underreported issue in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions like RA.
- Total hip replacement (THR) is a standard treatment for severe hip arthritis, aiming to restore function and alleviate pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of sexual difficulties in patients with rheumatoid arthritis experiencing hip symptoms.
- To evaluate the impact of total hip replacement on alleviating sexual problems attributed to hip pain and stiffness in RA patients.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based interview was conducted with 53 married patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis who had undergone THR.
- Patients were asked about pre-operative sexual difficulties related to hip symptoms and the effect of THR on these issues.
- Data from 44 respondents were analyzed to determine the relationship between THR and sexual function.
Main Results:
- Twenty-eight of the 44 surveyed patients reported experiencing sexual difficulties attributable to their hip condition.
- Following total hip replacement, 27 patients no longer identified their hip symptoms as the cause of sexual problems.
- However, 10 of these patients continued to face sexual life difficulties due to other unresolved health issues.
Conclusions:
- Total hip replacement surgery effectively addresses sexual difficulties stemming from hip pain and stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- While THR significantly improves hip-related sexual function, a subset of patients may still experience sexual challenges due to comorbidities.
- Further research should explore the multifaceted nature of sexual dysfunction in RA patients post-THR, considering non-arthritic factors.
Abstract:
Fifty-three patients with rheumatoid arthritis were interviewed by questionnaire. All the patients had undergone total hip replacement and were married at the time of operation. They were asked if they had had sexual difficulties because of hip pain or stiffness and if the hip operation had in any way alleviated these problems. Forty-four of the 53 patients answered the questionnaire. Twenty-eight patients had had sexual problems which they attributed to hip symptoms. Following total hip replacement the hips of 27 patients were no longer considered to be the cause of sexual difficulties, but in 10 of those patients other problems still rendered sexual life difficult.
