Sex, gender, and pain: Evidence and knowledge gaps
Edmund Keogh
Abstract
Sex and gender contribute to the variation in pain experience. A range of biological, psychological, and social factors are relevant, which point to potential pain mechanisms and the reasons for this sex/gender-based variation. This review provides a brief critical overview of the evidence for these patterns. It draws on both experimental and clinical studies and identifies some of the biological and psychosocial factors that are thought to impact on men and women's pain. There are limitations and gaps in understanding, and numerous challenges exist, ranging from difficulties with concepts through to methodology. There is a focus on gender as a dimensional set of psychosocial constructs, as this offers one approach to help enhance our understanding of men and women's pain. • Sex and gender impact on pain and pain behaviours. • An integrated approach is needed, but there are conceptual and methodological challenges. • A gender approach offers one way to help move beyond binary group comparisons. • There remains a need to better understand when and why sex and gender impacts on pain.