Female Specific Factors In Low Back Pain and Other Musculoskeletal Pains

Findings from a questionnaire-survey related study conducted with more than 11,000 women have identified a number of female specific factors associated with female lower back and upper extremity/arm pains. In adult women, hormonal and reproductive factors are associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain in general. Factors related to increased estrogen levels may specifically increase the risk of chronic low back pain. More specifically, past pregnancy, young maternal age at first birth, duration of oral contraceptive use, and use of estrogens during menopause were associated with chronic low back pain, while young age at menarche was associated with chronic upper extremity pain. Also, irregular or prolonged menstruation and hysterectomy were associated both with chronic low back pain and chronic upper extremity pain. No positive associations were found for current pregnancy and number of children.