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News: Women report feeling pain more intensely than men

Women report feeling pain more intensely than men, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pain.

In the study of 11,000 men and women, researchers analyzed patients' reports of pain across a range of approximately 250 disease categories, including cancer, back pain and infectious diseases. Patients were asked to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing "no pain" and 10 signifying the "worst pain imaginable."

Overall, women were more likely to report higher pain levels than men for almost all of the different diseases, says lead author, Dr. Atul Butte, chief of systems medicine in the department of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. While Dr. Butte acknowledged that many people define pain in different ways, he says the study still found a very clear gender difference.

So what accounts for the difference in pain for men and women? Some researchers say hormones may play a role in pain tolerance. According to an article from Time.com, studies have shown estrogen can help dull the activity of pain receptors, meaning that during low-estrogen parts of the menstrual cycle women may become more sensitive to pain.
The difference could also be accounted for culturally, as men have been taught to be strong in the presence of pain.

Why do you think women report feeling pain more intensely than men?

Posted by Melissa Greer onMonday, January 23rd, 2012 - 1:10pm

6 Comments

Although I'm a guy, I disagree with all the sexist comments of how girls are babies and are weak. I know guys that cry at the slightest thing while girls flinch but suck it up.

Submitted by Jordan on Fri, 2012-01-27 9:15pm.

Women feel pain more intensely its true,however pain management because of this is better. Women who have natural childbirth are relying on the endorphins to kick in to assist with the pain.
It could also be that most women I know, are juggling careers,child rearing and home management--and tend to ignore pain until it reaches an uncontrolled level.
Once that level is reached,it opens up neurons to accommodate and becomes more intense. Every time we have pain and it is ignored,one more neuron opens involving 5000 cells-the brain has so many other things to juggle that it has to open these neurons to manage the message call centre!

Women delay pain management until it reaches a level where it escalates so much it now has pathways carved out in our brain ,which makes it more intense.

Check out brain functions and the neural pathways --interesting.

Submitted by aemelia on Fri, 2012-01-27 12:15pm.

I think women may generally be more pain sensitive because they are more babied. Girls are generally treated more delicately. I notice with my girls they tend to flinch over nothing. A hair pulled would be as extreme as stubbing their toe on a chair by their reaction. Most girls aren't involved in body contact sports like boys are. If so, not usually as intense. I think it goes in the same as being abused. you may become more tolerant or resilliant. You just go on as this is how it is and cope.. learn to block it. Just as what you say with guys often being told to be tough. You're too sensitive- lap it up! If nobody is nurturing the wounds then you just retreat and suffer. Women are often looking for hugs or sympathy. I think because they are used to it- then when they actually need it.. thats another story

Submitted by Dee on Tue, 2012-01-24 9:16am.

Women may feel pain more intensely than a men but a woman can deal with that pain better. Most men are big babies when it comes to pain!

Submitted by Ann on Mon, 2012-01-23 8:53pm.

i just think men can handle pain better because...we are men.

Submitted by Strato on Mon, 2012-01-23 8:34pm.

All I know is that if it was up to guys to be the birth vessels of humanity I think we would have died out long ago...from a guy (not even concussed.)

Submitted by David on Mon, 2012-01-23 8:14pm.

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