Global study finds women report more pain than men at every body site

The brief in 6 cards

1. Note1 / 6

   WHY IN NEWS?

   • A study published in Nature Medicine in October 2026 analysed self-reported pain data from about 6.1 million people in 118 countries.
   • It found that women report pain more often than men at all 11 body sites examined.
   • Indian experts say the findings match observations in India, where women's pain has long been under-recognised, misunderstood or poorly treated.
   • The findings point to overlapping biological, socio-economic and healthcare inequalities.
2. Note2 / 6

   KEY FINDINGS

   The table summarises the study's main results and related Indian evidence.

   Finding	Detail
   Higher prevalence	Women were 83% more likely to report facial pain, 74% more likely to report headaches and 60% more likely to report abdominal pain
   Severity	Women had 52% higher prevalence of high-intensity pain and 50% higher prevalence of pain spread across the body
   Age pattern	Pain rose most steeply before age 55; average intensity peaked around 48 years
   Development gap	In late life, pain was far more common in low-HDI countries; low-back pain was nearly twice as common
   Risk factors	Smoking, obesity and low income together accounted for 18.3% of the global pain burden
   Indian evidence	A 2018 study found chronic pain in 25.2% of women against 12.3% of men; women made up 70.6% of cases

3. Note3 / 6

   KEY CONCEPTS

   1. What is the gender pain gap?

   It refers to evidence that women report more pain but are less likely to have it recognised and treated. A 2024 PNAS study of 21,851 patients found women less likely than comparable men to receive pain relief.

   2. Why does the study rely on self-reported pain?

   Self-reported data capture pain in people who never reach a doctor. This matters in countries with limited healthcare access.

   3. What is SDG Target 5.4?

   It calls for recognising and valuing unpaid care and domestic work through public services, infrastructure and social protection.

4. Note4 / 6

   WHY WOMEN CARRY MORE PAIN

   The article points to several overlapping causes.

   • Hormones: Oestrogen and progesterone influence pain perception and inflammation. Menstrual changes can trigger migraines, and endometriosis causes chronic pelvic pain.
   • Work strain: Repetitive, prolonged physical work strains muscles and joints, for example among women farm labourers.
   • Double burden: Women combine paid work with most unpaid care. They perform about 76% of global unpaid care work.
   • Nutrition: NFHS-5 found anaemia in 57% of Indian women aged 15–49, causing fatigue and reduced capacity.
   • Stigma: Menstrual pain is often treated as normal, so women delay seeking care.
   • Medical bias: Gender stereotypes can shape how doctors assess pain, research in The Journal of Pain (2021) found.
   • Poverty: Pain is more common in poorer countries with worse living conditions and healthcare access.
5. Note5 / 6

   CHALLENGES

   • Late diagnosis: A 2024 international study reported an average 9.6-year delay in diagnosing endometriosis.
   • Research gaps: The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) noted poor understanding of sex and gender differences in pain in 2024.
   • Discrimination in care: Stereotypes influence how pain is assessed and treated.
   • Infrastructure: Specialists and rehabilitation services are scarce, especially in rural India.
   • Informal work: Many women workers lack paid sick leave and occupational health cover, so they work through chronic pain.
6. Note6 / 6

   WAY FORWARD

   These are suggested measures, not approved policy.

   • Introduce standard pain-assessment protocols and strengthen Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
   • Require sex-disaggregated clinical trials and track chronic pain through health surveys.
   • Ensure early diagnosis of endometriosis and menstrual disorders.
   • Improve workplace ergonomics and social security for informal women workers.
   • Strengthen POSHAN Abhiyaan and anaemia control.
   • Expand childcare and community care services, in line with SDG 5.4.
   • Expand physiotherapy, rehabilitation and pain-management services under universal health coverage.

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