Women Experience Higher Rates of Persistent Pain: Reasons Explored

Women Experience Higher Rates of Persistent Pain: Reasons Explored

Women generally experience higher pain intensity and unpleasantness than men across various pain types, according to numerous studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This difference is influenced by a combination of biological, genetic, and sociocultural factors.

One of the most common pain conditions is headache, including migraines, which are more prevalent and often more severe in women. Genetics play a role, and hormonal cycles contribute to pain sensitivity changes. Women, particularly, report more painful and longer-lasting headaches with more associated symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.

In the realm of musculoskeletal pain, women are more likely to report pain in multiple sites, including back, hip, and neck/shoulder pain. Genetic factors contribute to susceptibility and severity of musculoskeletal pain.

Abdominal pain also shows a higher prevalence in women, likely linked to hormone-related modulation of pain receptors, which can fluctuate with menstrual cycles and menopause. However, specific information about abdominal pain was not provided in the studies.

Pelvic pain is more prevalent in women, influenced by reproductive organ-related factors and complex hormonal regulation. For women suffering from chronic pelvic pain, there is a significant potential for a history of intimate partner violence.

As women age, they experience more compression fractures, vertebral changes like scoliosis, loss of bone mass, and osteoarthritis than men. One study spanning 17 countries found that the occurrence of chronic pain is higher among females than males.

Social and psychological factors also affect pain reporting and experience. Women may express pain more openly due to gender norms, whereas men tend to under-report pain due to cultural expectations of stoicism. This can lead to misinterpretations where women's pain is underestimated despite higher reported intensity.

Cleveland Clinic pain psychologist Jill Mushkat Conomy, PhD, considers a long list of biological, psychological, and social issues when addressing women's pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used by pain psychologists to help patients rethink their pain and find different ways to manage and live with it.

In the United States, there is a 3-to-1 female-to-male ratio in the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. Chronic musculoskeletal pain is more common in females than males, according to studies from Europe and Australia. The NIH American Migraine Study II found that the one-year prevalence of migraine in the U.S. is 18% in women and 7% in men. Migraines are most common in women between the ages of 20 and 45.

These findings highlight the importance of understanding and addressing the unique pain experiences of women. Richard W. Rosenquist, MD, Chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Pain Management, emphasises the need for personalised approaches to pain management that take into account the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.

[1] National Institutes of Health. (2018). Sex Differences in Pain. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/patient-caregiver-education/understanding-sex-differences-pain [2] National Institutes of Health. (2020). Sex, Gender, and Pain. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/sex-gender-and-pain [3] National Institutes of Health. (2019). Pain in America: A Growing Public Health Problem. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/pain-in-america-a-growing-public-health-problem [4] National Institutes of Health. (2019). The Influence of Sex and Gender on Pain. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/the-influence-of-sex-and-gender-on-pain [5] National Institutes of Health. (2020). Pain and Reproductive Health. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/pain-and-reproductive-health

1. Women's unique pain experiences, particularly with regard to chronic conditions like headaches, migraines, musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, and pelvic pain, are extensively studied and often found to be more prevalent and severe compared to men, according to numerous studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
2. Factors contributing to these differences include genetics, hormonal cycles, social norms, and psychological factors, as well as the complex interplay between them. For instance, headaches in women can be more intense, last longer, and be accompanied by symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
3. When it comes to mental health, women tend to report pain more openly, which may lead to misinterpretations where their pain is underestimated despite higher reported intensity. Conversely, men tend to under-report pain due to cultural expectations of stoicism.
4. In the realm of medical-conditions, women are more prone to certain conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The importance of understanding and addressing these unique pain experiences, taking into account a personalized approach to pain management, is emphasized by experts like Richard W. Rosenquist, MD, Chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Pain Management.

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