Experts say that even if women feel more pain, doctors’ approach is often inappropriate and disrespectful
A survey conducted by the Brazilian Society for the Study of Pain (SBED) indicated that women are the most frequent victims of chronic pain. They tend to have more pain in the neck and shoulders, in the abdomen, tension headaches, migraines after puberty, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and others.
To give you an idea, the prevalence of painful conditions in women and men is 1.5 to 1 in low back, shoulder and knee pain. It’s 2 to 1 in pain in the mouth and face. 2.5 to 1 in migraine (throbbing pain affecting the side of the head). and 4 to 1 in fibromyalgia, a chronic disease whose main symptom is persistent pain throughout the body.
According to SBED, there are several pain syndromes specific to women. In particular is dysmenorrhea (pelvic pain that appears on the first day of the menstrual period and disappears when the flow stops). It affects between 49% and 90% of women and up to 15% of cases are very painful.
In addition, there are other painful syndromes that particularly affect women. This is the case with chronic pelvic pain, chronic vulvodynia, lower back and pelvic pain during pregnancy, and pain during childbirth.
Why do women feel more pain?
Pain specialist Amelie Falcone explains that many surveys have consistently shown gender differences in chronic pain. Such as, for example, the perception, description and expression of discomfort, the use of coping strategies and the benefits of various therapies.
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Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
