A new study finds that most cervical cancer survivors report satisfying sex lives, which challenges the public perceptions on what role hormones play in sexual activity. That's because surgical intervention usually reduces, or eliminates, a key hormone involved in female sexuality.

A joint University of Southern California-Yale University study uncovered the surprising findings after research was conducted on 179 women who were long-term survivors of surgical treatment for cervical cancer.

Previous research had focused on women who had surgery for cervical cancer no more than five years earlier. This study focused on women six to 28 years after surgery.

Testosterone is a hormone that plays a role in both male and female sexual behavior. Surgical intervention for cervical cancer often reduces or eliminates circulating testosterone because it involves removing the ovaries.

When asked if cervical cancer had a negative effect on their relationships, one-third of the women agreed while two-thirds disagreed with that statement. However, despite that, most women in the study reported being sexually active and enjoying sex.

Lead author Howard Greenwald, a USC professor with the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, put the findings in perspective.

"This observation is important because the public places so much emphasis on 'hormones' in sex and the pharmaceutical industry is poised to release a whole new generation of hormone-based drugs for female sexuality," Greenwald said in a statement. "A person's outlook, relationships and other factors may be just as important, or even more important."

The study was co-authored with Ruth McCorkle, of Yale University's School of Nursing, and appears in the recent issue of Journal of Women's Health.