Differences in pain between women and men
Gender differences in pain: the evidence
Women generally report more recurrent, more severe, and longer-lasting pain than men
Evidence for gender differences in pain is extensive and includes basic science, epidemiology, and clinical research Guo Ren, Department of Pain, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
For example, pilot studies have shown that women have lower pain thresholds and are less tolerant of multiple painful stimuli compared to men
Prevalence of pain in men and women
There are gender differences in the prevalence of some pains
More pain is more prevalent in females than in males
Pain with higher prevalence in women includes fibromyalgia syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and migraine with aura
Pain with higher prevalence in men included cluster headache, coronary heart disease, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, duodenal ulcer, and pancreatic disease
Other factors influencing gender differences in pain experience
Pain experience also varies greatly within gender
Changes in sex hormones can relieve pain (e.g., menstruation, pregnancy)
Gender differences in pain can vary over a person’s lifetime. Most observed sex differences in prevalent pain (i.e., headache, abdominal pain, and visceral pain) decrease after childbearing age
Gender differences in pain can also vary by culture
Gender differences in pain management
Gender differences in analgesia exist
Gender differences in side effects associated with medications (including analgesics)
Gender differences have also been found in non-pharmacological chronic pain treatment
Reasons for differences in pain and analgesia between men and women
Biological mechanisms, including sex hormones, genetics, and anatomical differences. Some of these biological factors (i.e., gonadal hormones) are less pronounced after menopause
Psychosocial influences, including emotions (e.g., anxiety, depression), coping strategies, gender roles, health behaviors, and use of medical services
What needs to be done?
Gender differences should be considered when investigating pain
Raise awareness of similarities and differences between genders when considering pain and analgesia
Better understanding of the different health needs of men and women