Advanced interventions for common pain conditions in women

Abstract

Pain syndromes affecting women have a significant global impact. There is increasing evidence that chronic pain affects a higher proportion of women than men around the world; unfortunately, women are less likely to receive treatment. Moreover, women generally experience more recurrent pain, more severe pain and longer-lasting pain than men. Pain conditions are more prevalent in women such as fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain and lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy and postpartum. Gender differences in pain sensitivity, pharmacological therapy, and nonpharmacological pain interventions have also been reported. It is becoming evident that gender differences in pain and its relief arise from an interaction of genetic, anatomical, physiological, neuronal, hormonal, psychological and social factors that modulate pain differently.