The relationship of low-back pain to pregnancy and gynecologic factors.

The association between low-back pain (LBP) and pregnancy and gynecologic factors was investigated in a retrospective cross-sectional study of 1,760 38- to 64-year-old women. The life-time incidence of LBP was 66% (incidence group) and the prevalence 35% (prevalence group). Eighty-six percent of the women had been pregnant, and 24% had suffered from LBP during pregnancy. Ten percent of the women in the incidence group and 15% of those in the prevalence group stated that their LBP had started during pregnancy. Fifty-one percent of the women in the prevalence group experienced an increase in their LBP during menstruation. For the purpose of an analysis of covariance, the population was divided by age into those aged 38 to 49 years and those 50 to 64 years of age. A higher number of abortions was found to be directly associated to LBP in 38- to 49-year-old women. In 50- to 64-year-old women, two variables were directly associated to LBP viz., a higher number of live births and a higher frequency of menopausal symptoms.