Why women are more likely to suffer from pain

Women are more likely than men to suffer from chronic pain, and numerous medical studies have confirmed this. Migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain and joint pain are all significantly more common in women. And the differences are so pronounced that women have up to 50% more cases of similar complaints than men.

With age, this trend only increases. Already in adolescence, girls begin to complain more often about headaches and body pains, while in boys the level of such complaints remains stable. Migraines are two and a half times more common in women, and chronic pain can persist for six months or more, often poorly treated.

Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis are equally common among women, all of which are accompanied by persistent or recurrent pain. In addition, women more often complain of several pain symptoms at once, which significantly complicates diagnosis and treatment, and can also cause psychological overload.

The reasons for this peculiarity have not been fully elucidated. However, many scientists believe that hormones - in particular, estrogen - may be involved. This hormone is involved in many physiological processes, including pain perception. It has also been found that sensitivity to pain can vary depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle.

The psychological aspect is also interesting. Men tend to perceive pain as a physical phenomenon, whereas women often associate it with emotions. This emotional involvement can increase the subjective feeling of pain, making it harder to bear.

Experts advise women to learn to view pain as a temporary physical condition rather than something inevitable and destructive. Modern medicine offers many ways to cope with chronic pain - from medication to psychotherapy and self-regulation methods. The main thing is not to tolerate it, but to look for a solution.