Yes, women experience more pain than men

Considering women endure childbirth, shouldn’t women somehow be built to experience less pain than men?  

Unfortunately, many studies across both industrial and developing populations have found that women experience more pain and suffer more acutely than men. 

“Women absolutely experience more pain than men,” explains Dr. Anwuli Okoli, a pain management physician at Advocate Health Care. “Whether we’re talking headache and migraines, menstrual pain, childbirth or menopause, women don’t just suffer pain more severely than men – they experience more types of pain.” 

In fact, women worldwide are more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia, migraines, tension headache, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular joint disorders and interstitial cystitis than men. They also are more resistant to painkillers than men, increasing their risk for drug misuse.

Why do women experience pain differently than men? 

“Hormones,” says Dr. Okoli. “Specifically, estrogen. When estrogen levels remain high, it can dampen the sensation of pain. But as estrogen levels fluctuate, pain sensitivity may increase. However, pain sensitivity may not be limited to periods of fluctuation. Compared to men, women also tend to experience chronic pain, pain that is resistant to treatment and lasts more than six months.” 

However, in the years before puberty, males and females may experience pain similarly. But as females advance through puberty and adolescent development, their sensitivity to pain increases for conditions like headaches, back pain and depression. 

Is pain simply all in your head? 

Another explanation for this difference in pain is rooted in brain structure, specifically the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC). The sgACC is a major point of connection between what your body experiences and what your brain perceives.  

In women, there’s greater connectivity in this part of the brain to the rest of the body, making it more efficient at detecting pain or discomfort. This stronger connectivity also leads to a more intense emotional experience, making how you feel about the pain more severe. 

Think of the sgACC as a 911 call center. For women, this call center has more operators and the capacity to handle a higher call volume. That means more emergencies can be reported faster. For men, there are fewer operators answering calls and less capacity to act on those calls or even receive them.  

While some may equate that to men being “tough,” the truth is it reduces the ability for an individual to sense danger and change their course of action for their own health and wellbeing. Men may also have a greater connection between stress and endorphin-release, making it more efficient at managing pain when it is detected. 

How to cope with pain

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common psychological intervention for chronic pain. Mindfulness is a common tool to prevent catastrophizing in the face of pain and, by extension, reducing the emotional experience it evokes. Combined with deep breathing, meditation and relaxation techniques, individuals can learn to calm their physiological response, muting the intensity of pain experienced. 

“Talk to your doctor,” says Dr. Okoli. “Painkillers may help, but the proper counseling can teach you coping mechanisms that increase your ability to tolerate pain and discomfort.” 

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