A Painful Subject

Women Feel More Pain Than Men : Discovery News: "Globally, women have more chronic pain than men, more recurrent pain, they are more likely to have multiple sources of pain, and they are definitely neglected as it relates to treatment,' said Jennifer Kelly, an independent psychologist in Atlanta.

Kelly presented a review of research on gender and pain today at a meeting of the American Psychological Association.

Along with findings that a combination of genes, hormones, emotions and even social roles influence the experience of pain, accumulating evidence suggests that doctors might some day personalize the management of pain, based on the genders of their patients. For now, scientists are still struggling to understand the nuances of chronic pain, which is notoriously hard to treat."