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Washington, Aug 13 (ANI): A new study has revealed that
women experience chronic pain longer, more intensely and more often than men.

“Chronic pain affects a higher proportion of women than
men around the world,” said Jennifer Kelly of the Atlanta Center for
Behavioral Medicine.

“We need to encourage women to take a more active role
in their treatment and reduce the stigma and embarrassment of this
problem.”

Kelly said the latest research offers interesting insights
into how physicians and mental health providers can better treat women with
chronic pain.

Chronic pain conditions that are more prevalent in women
than in men include fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid
arthritis and migraines, said Kelly.

Hormones may be to blame for these differences, said Kelly,
who added that estrogen clearly plays a role in conditions such as migraines.
Rates of other painful conditions increase for girls as they pass through
puberty whereas rates for adolescent boys are stable or rise less steeply.

“Pain perception does vary according to the menstrual
cycle phases in women with chronic pain,” said Kelly.

“For example, temporomandibular [jaw] pain, or TMJ, is
highest in the pre-menstrual period and during menses.”

As for treating pain, studies have shown men and women experience
different side effects of analgesic medications.

“Genetic and hormonal differences may be the main
reason for any differences, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that social
and psychological factors are also important,” said Kelly.

“Women tend to focus on the emotional aspects of pain.

“Men tend to focus on the physical sensations they
experience. Women who concentrate on the emotional aspects of their pain may
actually experience more pain as a result, possibly because the emotions
associated with pain are negative,” she said.

The findings were discussed at the 118th Annual Convention
of the American Psychological Association. (ANI)