Study reveals gender differences in pain reporting

A study published on October 5, 2026, in Nature Medicine by a team from McGill University found that women report more pain than men across all body areas studied, based on responses from over 6 million people across more than 100 countries.

Pain frequency varies by body location

The frequency of pain varies greatly by location, from 2% for the face to 40% for the back. Women exceed men on all 11 sites, with a risk ratio ranging from 1.08 to 1.83. These disparities peak for facial pain, then for headaches and abdominal pain.

Pain patterns change with age

The study found that these disparities do not deepen at the same point in life. The most rapid progression occurs before 55 years, and not after. Seven of the 11 sites follow a bell curve, with a peak and then a decline. Headaches peak around 34 years, abdominal pain around 23 years. The back and knee pain, on the other hand, progress up to 75 years and beyond.

Severe pain peaks in midlife

The most disabling forms of pain follow the same logic. Severe pain reaches its maximum around 50 years, diffuse pain around 70 years. The average intensity reported peaks around 48 years. Women remain more exposed, with risk ratios of 1.52 and 1.50.

Pain trends differ by region and age

The study also found that this global population shares pain very unequally after 65 years. In countries with a low human development index, bodily pain rises much higher. After 80 years, the gap reaches 30.6 points compared to rich countries. Eastern Europe shows the highest regional excess, about 21 points above the global reference.

Risk factors vary by region

Tobacco, obesity and low income would explain 18.3% of the global burden. This share drops to 12.6% in sub-Saharan Africa and rises to 27.1% in Eastern Europe. The causes of pain in poor countries thus still elude major surveys, which mainly measure Western risk factors.