It's a pain

Vegetarian Times, Dec, 2001 by Maria Rabat

Women can take some comfort in recent findings presented at the Second International Conference on Women's Health, held in August, which verified what they've known all along--that a woman's pain is less likely to receive adequate treatment than a man's. Confirmation came by way of a study in which physicians were asked to describe proposed treatment plans for fictional patients afflicted with a variety of ailments. The results showed that doctors prescribed higher doses of painkillers to men, and much more frequently. To add insult to injury, women are more likely to suffer from painful conditions such as migraines and fibromyalgia, an affliction characterized by chronic muscle pain. Furthermore, some researchers believe that women have a higher sensitivity to pain than men, and suspect that the hormone estrogen may be the culprit.

Scientists are now looking at how this physiological difference may play a role in alleviating pain. Clinical studies have shown that men and women respond differently to painkillers, specifically ibuprofen, which may be more effective in men than in women. Doctors believe that structural differences within the brain may account for this disparity. But don't look for his-and-her aspirin on the shelves just yet. Gender-specific pain medications are only in the investigative stages. Experts recommend that women who suffer from chronic pain talk to their doctors about the best pain-reliever for their needs.