Spine Health and Sexual Dysfunction: Breakthrough Discoveries with Dr. Choll Kim

Written By Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG, IF, MSCP

This conversation with Dr. Choll Kim revealed how spinal conditions like annular tears and Tarlov cysts are an overlooked cause of sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain. 

Dr. Kim's research shows that 8% of spine surgery patients have undiagnosed sexual problems, yet most providers never make this connection. His breakthrough approach uses targeted spinal injections to identify which patients can benefit from minimally invasive spine surgery to resolve their symptoms.

Dr. Kim explains:

  • Why 50% of people over 50 have spine abnormalities but no symptoms.

  • How targeted diagnostic injections reveal symptomatic vs asymptomatic findings.

  • Why annular tears cause more sexual dysfunction cases than Tarlov cysts.

  • How spine inflammation affects S2-S4 nerve roots controlling pelvic. sensation.

  • Why many patients have isolated pelvic symptoms without back pain.

  • How minimally invasive surgery achieves same-day discharge with zero complications.

Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG, IF, MSCP

Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN and founder of The GSM Collective in Chicago. She specializes in sexual medicine, menopause care, and complex gynecology, offering personalized, concierge-level care through an integrative lens.

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