Sex, gender, and pain
The available evidence suggests more robust opioid analgesia among women, and findings from studies of experimentally induced pain demonstrate greater pain sensitivity among females, and women show greater temporal summation of pain compared to men.
Abstract
Pain is among the most ubiquitous and costly health conditions in the developed world, and sex differences in pain responses have been widely reported. Population-based studies indicate higher prevalence of general chronic pain among women, and several specific chronic pain conditions are more common among females than males. Among patients experiencing clinical pain, results indicate a trend toward more severe pain in females, though these findings are inconsistent. Findings from studies of experimentally induced pain demonstrate greater pain sensitivity among females, and women show greater temporal summation of pain compared to men. Multiple biopsychosocial mechanisms have been found to contribute to sex differences in pain. Sex differences in response to pain treatment have received limited attention; however, the available evidence suggests more robust opioid analgesia among women. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research.