≡ New Study Finds Women Feel More Pain Than Men Across 11 Body Parts ➤ Brain Berries

According to new global research spanning 118 countries, women consistently experience more pain across 11 body parts than their male counterparts. The study, which included 6,125,459 participants, also found that across genders, the most intense spikes in self-reported pain occurred before the age of 55, potentially changing the way that experts approach chronic pain prevention and management.

The specific areas were the neck and shoulder, head, face, elbows, hips, chest, knees, back, abdominal area, foot and ankle area, and hand and wrist area. The most common site for pain was the back at 40%.

One postdoctoral researcher at McGill University, Matt Fillingim, shared that while the exact reason women have more prevalent pain throughout their lives is unclear, it is likely due to a combination of various factors rather than a single explanation.

Fillingham told “Medical News Today,” the difference probably reflects a combination of biological and social factors, including sex hormones, immune function, nervous-system pain processing, stress, reproductive burdens, occupational exposures, healthcare use, and differences in how symptoms are reported.”

He also said that based on research with animals, there are genuine differences between the genders in pain mechanisms, with women recruiting different immune pathways in pain hypersensitivity than men. Fillingham added that there isn’t one universal mechanism.

Shuchita Garg, MD, an associate professor of clinical medicine in the Department of Anesthesia/Division of Chronic Pain, and the medical director of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Pain Clinic, commented that the findings of the study show age patterns within specific populations rather than the changes that take place in the participants and that the findings also are mostly dealing with general pain rather than chronic pain.

Why do women experience a higher pain prevalence?

Garg states that the reasons are a blend of “biological, hormonal, and psychosocial elements” and that the most significant differences were found in pain in the facial and abdominal areas, from headaches and migraines to more severe symptoms. The pain in these areas corresponds with women’s reproductive years, and the differences between the genders in puberty or adolescent years are where this all begins.

Differences in immune pathways also play a role—neuropathic pain is linked to microglia activity in men (specialized immune cells) and T-cell (a type of white blood cell) activity in women. As for pain in the abdominal area, it can differ in women due to conditions like dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, and pelvic pain, and the type of pain is mostly nociplastic (deep, dull, and ongoing).

Finally, there is also a role played by psychosocial factors and access to care, coinciding with higher rates of anxiety and depression, exposure to trauma, caregiving burdens, and delays in diagnosis and treatment.

We are still missing important pain data

While this data is working to encourage a more life-span-based approach to pain monitoring and prevention, there are still some major pieces missing due to limited existing data and resource constraints, particularly from parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and other underrepresented regions.

Expert tips for people dealing with chronic pain

Rather than living with chronic pain or masking it with meds, experts suggest getting a comprehensive evaluation to see what factors could be contributing to the pain, as effective treatment relies on figuring out what type of pain it is and what the source is. From that point onward, the focus should be on getting back full function and movement.

The solution should also be holistic, including options such as exercises, mindfulness, physical therapy, behavioral strategies, and medication when appropriate. Because chronic pain is complex, it may require an equally complex treatment plan—that said, it doesn’t have to be permanent with the right approach despite the title of “chronic.”

Exercise is a particularly underrated component that may reduce pain and improve function when developed as a consistent habit. Factors within our control can also make a major difference, like sleep, smoking, mood, and weight loss. Garg suggests focusing on “functional goals” such as improving quality of life and mobility, rather than attempting to eliminate all pain fully.