Global study finds women report more pain than men across the lifespan
A large international analysis shows that women experience pain more frequently than men in virtually every body region, with differences evident from childhood to old age.
An extensive cross-national investigation analyzed health information from more than six million people across 118 nations, spanning the years 1990 to 2025. Published in Nature Medicine, the research evaluated pain occurrence in eleven anatomical locations, including the head, face, neck, shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, hips, knees, hands, wrists, elbows, feet and ankles. Women reported pain more often than men at every site, with the greatest gaps observed for headaches, facial discomfort and abdominal pain.
Pain frequency grew with advancing age for both genders, though the sharpest rise happened before the age of 55, suggesting many painful conditions emerge during working-age years. The incidence of severe pain reached its highest point around age 50, while pain affecting the whole body peaked near age 70. The authors highlight a "pain gender gap" and call for greater attention to women's pain in medical practice and prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Understanding gender differences in pain can improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention, reducing disability worldwide.
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