7 Causes of Female Lower Back Pain (Plus, What to Do About It)

If you experience consistent lower back pain as a female, there are a few causes.

Back pain has become one of the most common medical problems in women.

Surveys reveal that more than 80% of American women experience lower back pain at any point in their lives.

Lower back pain in women may result due to numerous reasons and injuries. The pain can range from mild to intense, depending on the cause or injury. 

Mild lower back pain can improve with rest, physical therapy, or pain relievers.

However, the intense lower back pains may require surgeries or Cortisone injections to improve.

In this post, we’ll discuss the common causes of female lower back pain.

Finally, we’ll share some useful tips on how to stop this type of pain.

Let’s get started.

What causes female lower back pain?

Lower back pain can be frustrating as it can result in sleepless nights and discomfort.

Several studies reveal that females suffer from lower back pain more intensely than men.

No underlying disease is diagnosed in more than 90% of lower back pain cases. 

Several potential factors can cause lower back pain in females, some of which are:

1. Endometriosis 

Endometriosis can be a potential cause of lower back pain in women.

It is a chronic condition that may occur when endometrial tissues grow outside the uterus, moving towards the pelvic cavity.

The abnormal growth of endometrial tissues can cause:

• hormonal imbalance
• pain
• severe bleeding, and
• spotting between periods

When endometrial tissues spread towards the pelvic cavity, they block the pathways for blood flow.

And this causes inflammation and irritation in the surrounding tissues.

This condition may result in chronic lower back pain, scar tissues build, and heavy periods.

The symptoms of Endometriosis may include:

• Fatigue 
• Intense pain within ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bladder
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Inflammation in the pelvic cavity 
• Constipation
• Pain during ovulation 
• Lower back pain, abdominal pain 

Some females with Endometriosis may experience mild to severe gnawing pain and pelvic pain that may radiate down the legs. 

2. Hormonal Issues or Premenstrual Syndrome 

Chronic lower back pain (LBP) is a common challenge all women face during menopause and before their periods.

Around 70% of women experience musculoskeletal pain with estrogen deficiency. 

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a potential cause of lower back pain in women.

Some of the symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Headache 
• Bloating 
• Food cravings 
• Mood swings 
• Anxiety 

The duration of premenstrual syndrome may vary from woman to woman.

But it usually starts a few days before the period and lasts up to two or three days after your period. 

Hormonal imbalance can result in premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD). PMDD is also a potential cause of lower back pain in women.

PMDD often starts a week before your period and can end a few days after your period.

Women with a family history of hormonal imbalance and depression have higher chances of developing premenstrual dysmorphic disorder. 

3. Spondylolisthesis (slipped Disc)

Spondylolisthesis is a condition where a thick oval bone segment in front of the vertebra slips, resulting in chronic lower back pain.

It can also radiate pain through the hip, spine, back, and legs.

Some unknown genital causes and a few acquired causes, such as hysterectomies and childbirth, may increase the risk for Spondylolisthesis in women. 

4. Herniated Disc

A herniated disc is a condition in which one of the discs from your vertebrate may compress.

This may also trigger chronic lower back pain in women.

An injury in your neck or lower back can result in herniated Disc. Women aged 40 and 55 may have a higher chance of herniated discs. 

5. Postmenopausal Compression 

Postmenopausal compression fractures are also significant causes of lower back pain in women.

Numerous studies show that more than 25% of women in the United States will experience vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) once in their lifetime at any point. 

Women with Osteoporosis have higher chances of suffering from vertebral compression fractures.

VCFs are small cracks in your vertebrate but can result in severe lower back pain and substantial disability. 

6. Disc Degeneration 

Repetitive motion or injuries in lower back pain can cause disc degeneration in women, resulting in chronic lower back pain.

The pain caused by disc degeneration may also extend to your thighs and buttocks. 

7. Pregnancy 

About 50% to 80% of pregnant women at early stages experience lower back pain.

During pregnancy, increased hormones, stress, poor posture, or position can result in mild to severe lower back pain.

During the early stages of pregnancy, the ligaments of your body become soft to prepare you for labor. And this puts a strain on the joints of your lower back. 

How to avoid female lower back pain? 

The following tips can help you avoid lower back pain:

• Get regular exercise (yoga) to ease muscle tension and inflammation
• Sleep on your side with knees pulled up towards your chest, or place a pillow under your hip when sleeping 
• Improve your posture to avoid chronic lower back pain 
• Maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI) to limit the pressure on your disks and vertebrae 
• Strengthen your back and abdominal muscles through different physical poses 

Takeaway

Numerous studies highlight that women of all ages have higher chances of experiencing chronic lower back pain than men.

Several factors can cause female lower back pain, including:

• hormonal imbalance
• poor posture
• postmenopausal compression fractures,
• pregnancy, and disc degeneration

Females should ensure proper prevention, improve their posture, and exercise regularly to avoid chronic lower back pain.