JOA - 2026-08-25 - Journal Article
Pregnancy, Sexuality, and Total Hip Arthroplasty: Experiences of Women Younger than 45 Years.
Özdemir E, Leneman MR, van der Voort NPAN, Visser J, Rijnen WHC
Topics
Key Takeaway
Among 51 women with post-THA pregnancies, 61% delivered vaginally without reported implant complications, and 48% reported improved sexual satisfaction after THA.
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Summary
This single-center retrospective study surveyed women aged 14–44 who underwent THA, using a questionnaire to assess post-THA pregnancy, delivery mode, and sexual activity outcomes. Of 87 post-THA pregnancies, 61% resulted in vaginal delivery and 39% in caesarean section; 21 pregnancies were complicated by ipsilateral hip pain. Pre-THA, 81% of sexually active women reported hip-related sexual dysfunction; post-THA, 48% reported improved sexual satisfaction.
Key Limitation
The 42% response rate with no non-responder analysis makes it impossible to determine whether women with complications or poor outcomes were systematically underrepresented.
Original Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy and sexuality are important considerations for young women undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), yet data on experiences and outcomes in this population remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate outcomes of pregnancy, delivery, and sexual activity after THA.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective single-center study of women aged 14 to 44 years who underwent a THA. All participants completed a questionnaire addressing pregnancy, childbirth, and sexual activity. A total of 132 women responded to the questionnaire (42%), representing 168 THAs and 188 pregnancies. The mean age at the time of the THA procedure was 29 years (range, 14 to 44).
RESULTS
There were 87 pregnancies that occurred after THA in 51 patients. Among the 51 first post-THA pregnancies, 31 pregnancies (61%) resulted in vaginal delivery and 20 in caesarean section (39%). Ipsilateral hip pain was reported by 13 women (21 pregnancies). Regarding sexual activity, 81% of sexually active women reported hip-related problems during sexual activity before THA. After THA, 48% reported greater satisfaction with sexual activity, attributed to reduced pain and improved mobility.
DISCUSSION
This study presents one of the largest cohorts to date evaluating pregnancy and sexuality after THA in young women. Findings suggest that vaginal delivery is generally safe after THA, and sexual activity improves due to pain relief and greater mobility. These insights may support informed decision-making in young women considering THA and highlight the importance of addressing both pregnancy and sexuality during pre- and postoperative counseling.