How men and women feel pain

Tuesday June 3rd, 2014

Men suffer more pain than women after major surgery - but discomfort levels are the other way round after minor procedures, researchers say.

In both instances men and women were found to be about 30% more likely to complain of pain than the other gender.

The findings were revealed at the Euroanaesthesia conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

Researchers questioned more than 10,000 patients over four years - 42% of them male. The patients were being treated at the University Hospitals of the Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany.

The researchers found that men suffered more episodes of moderate pain after major vascular and orthopaedic surgery. This happened 27% more among men than women.

Women, in turn, were 34% more likely to complain of pain after minor procedures, such as biopsies and diagnostic procedures.

The researchers, led by Dr Andreas Sandner-Kiesling, of the Medical University of Graz, Austria, write: "The gender differences on pain perception are still heavily disputed, both in experimental and clinical fields.

"Our data do not definitely clarify this issue; however, based on our findings it can be presumed that the type (and severity) of surgery may play a pivotal role, as females express higher pain scores after minor procedures, whereas males are more affected after major surgery."

Tags: Europe | Men's Health | Pain Relief | Women's Health & Gynaecology

Printer friendly page