Long-Held Belief Challenged: Women May Not Be More Pain-Resistant Than Men, Research Suggests
STANFORD, CA – Decades of assumptions about sex-based differences in pain perception are facing scrutiny following new findings highlighting fundamental biological distinctions in how men and women experience pain. Contrary to the widely held notion that women are more sensitive to pain, emerging research indicates that the underlying mechanisms might potentially be “completely different wiring schemes,” as described by Sean Mackey, head of the pain medicine department at Stanford University. This revelation has important implications for pain management, drug development, and clinical care, perhaps reshaping how healthcare professionals approach pain treatment for both sexes.
For years,the perception that women experience pain more readily than men has been prevalent,fueled by observations of higher rates of certain chronic pain conditions in women. Though, a growing body of evidence, spearheaded by researchers like Jeffrey Mogil, suggests the differences are far more complex. mogil’s work, dating back to 1996, initially identified sex-specific genes influencing pain perception.Subsequent investigations revealed disparities in the role of immune cells in pain pathways between the sexes. More recently,studies have demonstrated that even nociceptors – the sensory neurons responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain – function differently in males and females,across both human and animal models.
These biological differences extend to the influence of sex hormones.The onset of puberty, marked by considerable hormonal shifts, coincides with a noticeable divergence in the prevalence of clinical pain conditions. While migraine rates are comparable between prepubescent boys and girls, women experience migraines at roughly twice the rate after puberty. Furthermore, chronic pain intensity can fluctuate in correlation with the menstrual cycle, underscoring the hormonal connection.
“These studies send us a clear message: the differences between the sexes are not only stronger or lower; These are often completely different wiring schemes,” Mackey told The Washington Post. “And we must take these differences between men and women when we take care.” Researchers are now focused on translating these findings into more personalized and effective pain management strategies, acknowledging that a one-size-fits-all approach may be inadequate given the distinct biological realities of male and female pain experiences.
