The men in my family all seem to have back problems. My father and his two brothers and my own brother have all had herniated discs. As a woman am I safe from this condition?

Women aren’t exempt from disc disease or problems from herniation. But they are far less likely than men to have low back pain from a lumbar herniated disc (LHD). In fact studies show men are three times more likely to have a LHD compared to women.

It’s not clear if there is a genetic basis for LDH. It’s possible that the structure of a disc and the surrounding tissues puts some people at greater risk than others. And maybe this at-risk structure is passed along genetically.

Other risk factors that may be linked with LDH include lifting heavy loads and engaging in strenuous physical activity. Driving motor vehicles for a living is another potential risk factor. These are activities men are more likely to do than women.

Clearly the aging process contributes to disc degeneration. But do men and women’s discs age differently? Scientists agree more study is needed to identify who is at risk and what can be done to prevent disc herniation.