Sex and gender differences in pain: a selective review of biological and psychosocial factors

Evidence suggests that there are important differences between men and women with respect to the perception and experience of pain. The objective of this review is to provide a general overview of this area and to explore potential mechanisms for such differences. It will focus on a range of different types of evidence including experimental studies, epidemiology, as well as more clinically orientated treatment investigations. Some of the biological, psychological and social factors thought to help understand why such variation between men and women occurs will be considered. While there are still many unanswered questions, what is clear is that it is no longer acceptable to simply ignore such potentially important differences between the sexes in their experience of pain.