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Gender and Pain

  • Pain Medicine (GJ Meredith, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Sex differences in pain have become a topic of significant interest over the past two decades. This brief review addresses the epidemiological literature on sex-related influences on pain, with an emphasis on the mechanisms that may account for the greater incidence of chronic pain in women.

Recent Findings

Although the magnitude of effects varies, overwhelming evidence suggests that women are at greater risk for clinical pain and have heightened sensitivity to experimental pain stimuli. There are also notable differences between men and women in their response to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain treatments; however, findings across studies have been mixed.

Summary

Given the evidence of pain disparities, a number of biological and psychosocial mechanisms accounting for the variation in pain among men and women have been proposed. Continued investigation of the factors driving sex differences in pain may facilitate advances in pain management for both sexes.

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Correspondence to Emily J. Bartley.

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Emily J. Bartley and Shreela Palit declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pain Medicine.

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Bartley, E.J., Palit, S. Gender and Pain. Curr Anesthesiol Rep 6, 344–353 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-016-0177-2

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