The disparity in the gender responses is also believed to be influenced by multiple biological and psychological processes. For example, various research studies have implicated sex hormones as a great influence in pain sensitivity.

A case is has also been made suggesting that normal function of endogenous opioid and genotype may casually advance the different gender experiences of pain. Women’s attitudes and response towards various pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain interventions is, however, not consistent with most of the other gender based conclusions. The disparity stems from the fact that pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors appear more in tuned with the type of treatment being offered as well as the characteristic of pain and the provider.

The Case for Gender Disparity in Pain Management

The difference in how men and women respond to pain quickly emerges during adolescence. During this stage of growth, girls report an increase in pain conditions as they go through puberty. On the other hand, men become more stable and have relatively fewer pain conditions compared to female counterparts. Women are also likely to experience multiple pain situations, all at the same time. This situation is mostly attributed to the differences in levels of psychologic distress as well as the risks associated with disability as opposed to the experience of having a single bout of pain.

Indeed, some population based studies have shown that women experience high prevalence rates of musculoskeletal pain conditions compared to men. According to a report by the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, the following assessments have been made regarding the gender variance in reporting and experiencing pain:

1. The ratio of women to men with regards to the experience of suffering pain in the shoulder, knee, headache, neck and back stands at an average of 1.5 : 1.
2. The gender response on facial pain conditions indicates the difference between women and men is in the ratio 2 : 1.
3. The responses on gender differences in reporting migraine headache indicates the disparity between women and men to be 2.5 : 1.

Deductions Regarding the Gender Disparity in Pain Management

Even though studies suggest there is a high prevalence of pain among women, gender responses attributed to psychosocial factors such as social roles and coping are yet to be concluded. The more conclusive evidence of the difference in gender attitudes to pain management suggests that:

1. On average, women report more cases of feeling pain than their male colleagues.
2. Substantial evidence suggests that men and women hold different perceptions and experience regarding pain.
3. Various mechanisms are thought to play a big factor in the gender perceptions of pain; among them are attitudes towards health and the role played by sex hormones.
4. The sex of a patient is normally not investigated in most studies.
5. There seem to be relatively fewer painful conditions that men exhibit as opposed to women.

Regardless of the differences, it is very important that proper care and treatment is given to those who suffer from chronic pain and other injuries by seeking out a pain management physician.