Global Study Reveals Women Experience More Pain Than Men

A comprehensive global study published in the journal Nature Medicine has revealed that women are more likely to report pain in nearly all areas of the body compared to men. This study analysed data from over six million participants across 118 countries, covering periods from 1990 to 2025.

Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensation, and when persistent for more than six months or episodically recurring, it is considered chronic. Pain is not merely a physiological issue; it has complex biological and psychological facets, and recent research indicates that it may manifest differently in different sexes.

The findings indicate that women are 83% more likely to experience facial pain, 74% more prone to headaches, and 60% more likely to suffer from abdominal pain than their male counterparts. Overall, females were found to be 16% more likely to endure any form of pain, whether it is high-intensity or generalised.

The review article published in the journal Science elaborates that various pain disorders disproportionately affect women, including conditions such as fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Each of these ailments can significantly diminish the quality of life.

Historically, the scientific community relied on male subjects in research, leading to the assumption that pain responses were universally similar. However, recent advancements now advocate considering sex as a biological variable in research. This shift has provided insights into how men and women may experience pain differently, including the ways in which pain is triggered and managed.

Experts are currently investigating sex-specific causes for the disparities in pain reports. Factors that may contribute include hormonal influences, differences in immune responses, and even the gut microbiome. For instance, female hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone, can impact both the nervous and immune systems, which may exacerbate pain sensitivity.

The Nature study assessed pain across 11 anatomical sites, including the head, neck, back, abdomen, and limbs. The results were significant: seven out of the eleven sites followed an inverted-U pattern, meaning pain levels increased to a peak before declining later in life. Women are particularly vulnerable to visceral pain—pain arising from internal organs—especially in the pelvic region.

The research further found that pain incidence rises sharply before the age of 55, with severe pain peaking around age 50 and general pain patterns peaking around 70. Additionally, people residing in countries with lower Human Development Index (HDI) scores were found to report nearly twice the prevalence of bodily pain compared to those in higher HDI nations.

Notably, factors such as smoking, obesity, and low income contribute significantly to global pain burdens, with around 18.3% of the pain linked to these risk factors. The implications of these findings are significant, suggesting that urgent health interventions are necessary, particularly for women.

The study underscores the need for a deeper understanding of how sex and gender affect pain perception and treatment, aiming to improve healthcare outcomes for both men and women worldwide.