Healthy Life

Are men and women the same when it comes to pain?

In these more modern times of sexual equality, it may not be politically correct to talk about differences between men and women. Unfortunately, the medical profession cannot ignore the increasing volume of scientific evidence that there are important differences, particularly when it comes to pain management. In this, it is important to distinguish between biological sex and gender. There are visual tests for the presence or absence of reproductive organs, and lab tests for chromosomes that help to say whether this is a man or woman. Gender, on the other hand, is a list of the social roles society defines for people. This can be complicated when people choose to act or behave in ways considered more appropriate for the opposite sex. As an example of the problem, you only have to look at the complaints that Caster Semenya is not a woman. How can this muscular person from South Africa suddenly beat the word record for the 800m by one second and be a woman?

The last decade has seen a rapid rise in the volume of research into gender differences in the response to pain. There is clear evidence that women are more likely to consult a doctor about pain and to take drugs to relieve that pain. As a result, the national statistics show more women than men suffering from the more common medical conditions causing pain such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc. In tests involving healthy volunteers, women are more likely to report higher levels of pain than men. This applies regardless of the other factors of age, race, ethnicity and religion. Interestingly, brain scans have shown that pain affects different parts of the brain. In women, the limbic area which also affects emotions is stimulated more than in men.

The speculation is that the differences in brain activity flow from early human development. Men were the stronger group with responsibility to fight to defend the community. This means being prepared to accept pain. Women were expected to respond to danger by nurturing and protecting the young, running away if necessary. Today, men remain less willing to admit to feeling pain and are reluctant to seek medical help. It does not matter whether this is a biological or gender difference, the statistical evidence for this unwillingness to seek help is absolutely clear. But, equally clear is that tramadol relieves the pain of both a macho man and an emotional woman. Even though there may be gender differences, the biological effect of tramadol is the same on a human body. It relieves moderate to severe pain. So, perhaps it is time for all men suffering in silence to overcome the cultural conditioning that threatens their self-esteem if they admit to pain. Once you have clearance from your local healthcare provider that there are no problems in you taking this drug, go online and buy tramadol from the privacy of your own home. This relieves the pain and preserves your image.

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