Women report pain more often than men, global analysis finds

A major global study has found that women suffer more pain across the entire body compared to men, according to research published in Nature Medicine. The study, which analyzed data from over 6 million people in 118 countries between 1990 and 2025, discovered that women reported higher levels of pain at 11 different bodily sites, including the head, face, neck, shoulder, foot, ankle, hand, wrist, elbow, chest, back, stomach, abdomen, hip, and knee.

The most significant increase in pain occurred before individuals reached the age of 55, with back, hip, and knee pain persisting throughout a person's lifetime.

The study also revealed that women were more likely to experience certain types of pain, such as headache, facial, and abdominal pain, compared to men. Conversely, upper body pain like neck, shoulder, and elbow pain tended to peak during midlife and then decline, while lower body pain, including back, hip, and knee pain, continued to increase across the lifespan. This suggests that the most disabling forms of pain tend to peak in mid-to-late adulthood before gradually decreasing.

The research highlights the importance of considering gender differences in pain management and emphasizes the need for equitable monitoring and prevention efforts, as current estimates may overlook individuals with limited healthcare access. The study also found that various factors, such as smoking, obesity, and lower household incomes, contribute to the global pain burden, with these factors varying across different regions and socioeconomic conditions.