Women report more pain than men in different parts of the body, according to a global study that covers more than 6.1 million people in 118 countries. Women reported more pain in 11 of the 11 anatomical areas examined, according to a study that was published in the journal Nature Medicine on October 5, 2026.
The findings provide fresh evidence of what researchers call the gender pain gap. The differences were particularly apparent in facial pain, headaches and abdominal pain. Pain prevalence increased fastest before the age of 55 for women and men, the study also found.
We assessed individual-level data from 902 population-based sources from 1990 to 2025. The findings are promising for better understanding of how pain varies from age groups, regions and sexes and for the recognition and treatment of pain in different settings.
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What Did The Study Find?
The researchers examined self-reported pain in 11 body areas, including head, face, neck or shoulder, hands or wrists, elbows, chest, back, stomach or abdomen, hips, knees, and feet or ankles.
Women reported pain more frequently than men in all these areas. The differences were varied by body part and the largest gaps were for facial pain, headaches and abdominal pain.
Women were 1.83 times as likely to report facial pain as men, they found. They were also 1.74 times as likely to report headaches and 1.60 times as likely to report stomach or abdominal pain.
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Back pain was the most common type of pain in the overall analysis and was reported by approximately 40% of participants. Facial pain was the least common and was reported by approximately 2%.
The findings indicate that differences in reported pain are not limited to a particular medical condition or body part. Instead, the pattern appeared across all 11 areas included in the analysis.
But the study measured reported pain prevalence. It does not prove that every woman experiences more pain than every man or that women necessarily have a higher pain intensity in every situation.
How does pain change with age?
Age was another important factor evaluated in the study. Pain prevalence generally increased as people grew older, but the rates of increase were not the same throughout their lives.
For women and men, pain prevalence has increased most sharply before 55. Pain prevention and management may require focus well before older adulthood, the pattern suggests.
The researchers also investigated high-intensity and widespread pain that were related to the overall prevalence of pain at different ages. High-intensity pain peaked around age 50, while widespread pain peaked later, roughly 70.
These findings debunk the notion that pain is only a problem at the end of old age. They also suggest that working-age adults might also carry a considerable burden of pain and might be helped to recognize and address it earlier and provide proper care.
Why might women report more pain than men?
The study found differences in pain prevalence but was not designed to provide a single explanation for the gender pain gap.
Several biological, social and healthcare factors may contribute to the differences. Hormonal differences, pain processing and the prevalence of certain health conditions could be among the biological factors researchers have studied.
Women are also impacted by endometriosis and some autoimmune disorders, and may experience permanent or recurring pain. Headaches and migraines are also big contributors to the overall burden of pain.
Social factors and access to healthcare may influence whether pain is recognised, reported, diagnosed and treated. Prior concerns about women’s symptoms being dismissed or inadequately investigated have also raised questions about possible gaps in healthcare delivery.
But these factors should not be taken as a justification for every difference seen in this study. Further research is needed to explain how biological characteristics, social circumstances, and healthcare systems interact.
What Do The Findings Mean For Healthcare?
The findings highlight an important health issue in healthcare systems that pain is in fact a major health problem in all stages of life.
Knowing how pain prevalence varies by age, sex and geographical region may help researchers to better estimate population-level impacts and identify groups that may need more focus.
The study also provides a reference framework that can be used to compare pain patterns across populations. This might inform future research on prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
However, these findings are based on self-reported pain data from many sources. Differences in the way pain was measured and reported across studies might also affect comparisons between populations.
The results also do not mean that an individual’s pain can be assessed based on sex alone. Medical evaluation must consider the person’s symptoms, medical history, underlying conditions and other relevant factors.
Why The Gender Pain Gap Matters?
Pain is a major cause of disability worldwide and impacts our daily lives, work and quality of life. Women report pain more frequently than men across the body.
By comparing the differences among age groups and regions, the research provides a starting point for more detailed studies into the causes of pain and the factors that influence its recognition and treatment.
The findings underline the need for patients to report pain and that they should be considered for medical assessment, irrespective of sex or age.
The study, however, does not show that pain affects women equally. It indicates a common population-level difference that research and medical professionals still need to come to understand.
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