Women may experience pain for a longer duration than men following an injury, a new study suggests, challenging long-held beliefs that differences in pain perception are primarily psychological. The research, published in Science Immunology on February 20, 2026, indicates that biological factors, specifically differences in the immune system, may contribute to the disparity.
For decades, the tendency for women to report more frequent and prolonged pain compared to men has often been dismissed as stemming from emotional or social factors, leading to a historical overlooking of women’s pain in medical settings. “A lot of women are taught to hide their pain, because then, if they don’t, people will perceive that they can’t do their jobs, that they can’t take care of their families,” said Ann Gregus, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech who researches chronic pain treatment, and was not involved in the study.
The study, led by Geoffroy Laumet, an associate professor in the Department of Physiology at Michigan State University, combined experiments on mice with data collected from individuals involved in motor vehicle accidents. Researchers focused on interleukin-10 (IL-10), a molecule known to reduce inflammation. Their findings revealed that IL-10 also plays a role in “switching off” pain-sensing nerve cells, effectively helping to resolve pain.
The research team discovered that monocytes, a type of immune cell that produces IL-10, behaved differently in males and females after injury. In male mice and human subjects, these cells were more likely to produce IL-10, leading to quicker pain resolution. In females, the production of IL-10 by monocytes was less pronounced. “Our findings show that when pain lasts longer in women, We see real and has a biological basis,” Laumet stated. “It is not because women are ‘softer’ or more emotional.”
Further investigation revealed a link between testosterone levels and IL-10 production. Higher testosterone levels in males correlated with increased IL-10 production by monocytes, suggesting a hormonal influence on the body’s natural pain-resolution mechanisms. This suggests that hormonal signals may shape the body’s ability to naturally turn off pain after injury.
The study’s findings represent a shift in understanding the role of the immune system in pain management. Rather than solely viewing the immune system as a contributor to pain through inflammation, researchers now recognize its potential role in actively resolving it. “What we show is, it’s a real biological mechanism from the immune cells. It’s not in the mind,” Laumet explained.
Researchers believe that understanding these biological pathways could pave the way for new treatments for chronic pain. Future therapies may focus on boosting the body’s own pain-resolution system, rather than simply blocking pain signals, by enhancing the ability of immune cells to calm down pain-sensing neurons. The study authors acknowledge that further research is needed to fully understand the complexities of chronic pain and sex differences in pain perception.
