Which Is The Weaker Sex When It Comes To Pain?
Women have been stereotyped as complainers, endless talkers, damsels in distress…the weaker sex. But given the extensive research and studies made on women-related diseases, some might conclude that women have, indeed, more reason to complain about.
Infertility, endometriosis, mammography, breast diseases, vaginal diseases, vulvar disease, osteoporosis, glaucoma, childbearing, and menopause — these are just some of the diseases or conditions that affect millions of women around the world. Scientists who were investigating gender differences in pain have found that, compared to men, women experience more pain throughout the course of their lifetime. They also experience pain more severely and for longer periods of time compared to men.
Some of the most astounding research concerns the medications used to treat pain. This work calls into question the age-old pain management practice of one size (or one drug) fits all. For example, a series of studies have shown that morphine-like drugs called kappa-opioids, produce significantly greater pain relief in women than in men. These drugs work through...