Women More Likely to Report Pain Than Men, Study Reveals

ISLAMABAD: (News Desk) – An international study involving more than 6.1 million people has found that women are more likely than men to report pain in several parts of the body, including the face, head and abdomen.

Published in the medical journal Nature Medicine, the research analysed data from 118 countries and covered people aged five to 100 years and older. The findings highlight differences in pain prevalence between men and women, as well as how pain patterns change throughout life.

According to the study, women were 83% more likely than men to report facial pain, 74% more likely to experience headaches and 60% more likely to report abdominal pain.

The researchers also found that physical pain does not necessarily become more severe with advancing age. For many body parts, pain prevalence rises rapidly before the age of 55, reaches its highest levels during middle or older adulthood, and then declines in later years.

However, the age at which pain peaks varies depending on the body part. Among women, abdominal pain typically reaches its peak around age 23, while headaches peak at approximately 34. Pain affecting the neck, shoulders and elbows is most pronounced between the ages of 59 and 62.

In contrast, pain in the hips, knees and back can continue to increase until age 75 or beyond, indicating that some musculoskeletal problems become more common with advancing age.

Low-Income Countries Face Greater Pain Burden

The study highlighted significant differences in pain prevalence between countries with different income levels. Older adults in low-income countries experience a particularly high burden of physical pain, with lower back pain reported at nearly twice the rate found in wealthier nations.

Researchers suggested that physically demanding work, inadequate nutrition, infectious diseases and limited access to healthcare could contribute to this disparity.

Lower back pain emerged as the most common form of physical pain worldwide, affecting approximately 40% of people. Facial pain was the least common, affecting around 2% of the population.

Obesity was also identified as an important factor associated with joint pain. According to the findings, it nearly doubles the risk of pain, particularly in the feet, ankles and knees, while its association with hip pain was comparatively weaker.

The contribution of other risk factors also varied by region. In Europe and North America, smoking, obesity and low income accounted for up to 27% of the overall burden of physical pain. In lower-income regions, these factors accounted for approximately 12%.

Researchers Highlight Gender Gaps in Pain Management

The findings also raised concerns about the underrecognition of women’s pain and differences in how pain is treated. Researchers highlighted that women may receive fewer pain-relieving medications despite reporting a greater burden of pain in several areas of the body.

The study further indicated that physical pain increases substantially during working-age years, potentially affecting people’s daily activities, employment and quality of life.

Researchers warned that the burden of physical pain in low-income countries may be considerably greater than previously estimated, underscoring the need for improved healthcare access, better pain management and greater recognition of differences in pain experiences across populations.