[I love my cat!]

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Doctors are failing to give women the right level of pain relief, researchers say.

It has always been assumed that women's bodies give them a higher pain threshold than men, to help them cope with the agony of childbirth.

But a study suggests the opposite is true. Women generally experience more recurrent pain, more severe pain and longer lasting pain than men.

EDITED
The research paper also claims that many doctors fail to take women patients as seriously as men, often brushing off their symptoms as 'psychological'.

This is despite the fact that women are more prone to long term- and often agonising - conditions-such as migraines, irritable bowel syndrome and arthritis.

Cultural factors also influence a woman's likelihood of seeking treatment for medical conditions, including pain.
In many cultures, women believe that their suffering is part of their role in society.

Additionally, treatment by a male healthcare provider may also bring shame to a woman's family, forcing her to go without treatment.

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I've said this before, but I will say it again....I LOVE the new, updated and accurate research on chronic pain issues, especially research r/t women with pain issues!
It's about time.
Seriously. I have read dozens and dozens of posts here on Allnurses by Professionals that are 100% convinced, that a woman in chronic pain, but without the obvious text-book explanations for the cause of the pain, is, "Making it up".....a "Drug-seeker"....needs a psyche eval or is just plane nuts because, "Did you see the antidepressants she is on?"
I hope that this new research will help people keep an open mind and look at womens pain issues differently and seriously.

[Vito Andolini]

You'd think that with all the women physicians we have now there would be greater awareness.

Too bad this article appeared in what looks like the British equivalent of some American gossip rags. I should think that would lessen its credibility.

[aknottedyarn]

I remember when we rarely saw a female in CCU due to an MI. I think it was for the same reason. Symptoms were different and considered "psychological". If that was not a case of the male MD brushing aside the woman's legitimate complaints!

I believe women are are taught how to hide pain better as a result of the insults of the past. I am glad to see the research is confirming what many of us knew. - Women are not wimps about pain.

[aknottedyarn]

IASP just finished the conference in Glasgow and nothing from that conf. is on their website yet. This year their focus was women and pain so we should be seeing lots of research coming out.

This group has greatly influenced the way we deal with pain so we may be seeing more changes coming in the next few years.

[PiPhi2004]

I have personally never seen Drs treat pain differenty in men or women, but I am not suprised it would happen in different areas where pain is more of an issue than mine. Never really knew it was an issue. Can't wait to see if anything new (EBP wise) comes from this information.

[aknottedyarn]

The research I read indicates that there are significant differences in many aspects of pain. This will be interesting in the future as it seems use of meds may change.

This is one reason why I love nursing. There is always something new to learn.

[Xbox Live Addict]

Originally Posted by aknottedyarn

I remember when we rarely saw a female in CCU due to an MI. I think it was for the same reason. Symptoms were different and considered "psychological". If that was not a case of the male MD brushing aside the woman's legitimate complaints!

I believe women are are taught how to hide pain better as a result of the insults of the past. I am glad to see the research is confirming what many of us knew. - Women are not wimps about pain.

Truly sad to see that the old attitudes toward women and pain, born in antiquity, like that are still persisting in this day and age, and in people with the most thorough modern education to be had, in our high-tech hospitals. Unfortunately, it isn't surprising either.

[I love my cat!]

Originally Posted by Vito Andolini

Too bad this article appeared in what looks like the British equivalent of some American gossip rags. I should think that would lessen its credibility.

The American equivalent that this article was posted on was Fox News.com...so, yes, perhaps to some individuals, it does lessen its credibility.

Anyway, I have been reading more and more articles that seem to be addressing pain issues in women. I am always open to new and current ideas on how to address them.
Many drug studies and medical research done in the past only used men. I guess women are finally catching up.

[GilaRN]

How ridiculous! How in today's day and age would anybody use childbirth as an example of pain tolerance in woman? It should not take a rocket scientist or research study to understand that women feel pain as well as men. Let's do a poll, how many women did not have pain during childbirth?

I always though the old concept of women having higher pain tolerance because of child birth was bogus. People feel pain. Pain is a natural mechanism designed to help us identify problems. This mechanism is as important for women as men. Then again, I am currently living in an area where people have some pretty interesting beliefs. Some involving the worth and place of a woman. A different topic all it's own however. I simply cannot accept a western society holding onto this belief.

How people respond and express pain is a different story and really can relate to culture, upbringing, personal beliefs, etc.

[Vito Andolini]

Originally Posted by GilaRN

How ridiculous! How in today's day and age would anybody use childbirth as an example of pain tolerance in woman? It should not take a rocket scientist or research study to understand that women feel pain as well as men. Let's do a poll, how many women did not have pain during childbirth?

I always though the old concept of women having higher pain tolerance because of child birth was bogus. People feel pain. Pain is a natural mechanism designed to help us identify problems. This mechanism is as important for women as men. Then again, I am currently living in an area where people have some pretty interesting beliefs. Some involving the worth and place of a woman. A different topic all it's own however. I simply cannot accept a western society holding onto this belief.

How people respond and express pain is a different story and really can relate to culture, upbringing, personal beliefs, etc.

Where are you living and what does your Latin quote mean?

I know of at least 4 women who say they had only pressure or very slight pain during childbirth, 1 who says she had only 1 huge contraction, also painless, and boom, here's baby. I also know of one who says she had menstrual periods throughout her 1st pregnancy.