If you’re a woman there’s a high chance you’ve had your pain ignored or dismissed. If you’re a woman who suffers from a health condition like endometriosis, migraine or another chronic illness, it’s even higher.
Some of this could be put down to these illnesses being ‘invisible’ and arguably harder to treat, but a growing body of research has found gender bias is the primary reason women’s pain is routinely disbelieved and undertreated.
More than half (55 per cent) of women surveyed in Nurofen’s recent Gender Pain Index Report felt they have had their pain ignored or dismissed compared to only 48 per cent of men. Almost a third said this was because their GP didn’t take their pain seriously.
“Women are conditioned to just ‘get on with it’. We try not to make a fuss. We go to work, we grin and bear it while putting everyone else first because that’s what society has taught us, that’s what’s expected of us,” says Dr Sarah White, CEO of Jean Hailes, a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the knowledge of women’s health.
“And, of course, women shouldn’t just ‘get on with it’. We should feel comfortable talking about pain, telling our doctors, bosses and loved ones how it’s affecting us and asking for pain relief and support.”
These findings are also supported by the national #EndGenderBias survey which found over 70 per cent of participants had experienced gender bias in the diagnosis and treatment of a health condition and 72 per cent had experienced gender bias at the GP.
“Research shows women are often underdiagnosed and undertreated for pain and this bias influences the choice of medication prescribed,” explains Dr Fiona Jane, a specialist women’s health GP.
“This happens in the emergency room and postoperatively too, for example, doctors prescribing sedatives rather than opioids, and the more frequent use of psychological therapies and antidepressant medication rather than pain relief.”
The problem with women’s pain
Years of entrenched gender bias in the medical field means most of the research we have collected is on males.
When you look at research into exercise physiology, for example, just six per cent of studies included female-only participant groups.
“Medical research has traditionally focused on the male experience of health conditions, including pain, so it’s now playing catch-up to capture the female experience,” says Dr White.
This is largely due to the fact there is a distinct difference in how females and males – both humans and laboratory animals – experience pain.
“Put in very simple terms, females have more pain receptors, and different pain receptors, compared to males. How we experience pain and how it’s transmitted around the body are also different,” she explains.
In addition, there are biological differences in response to pain management between women and men.
“A woman’s body processes drugs differently compared to a man, and therefore her response to pain treatments will vary,” confirms Dr Jane.
Why more women suffer from chronic pain
It’s no coincidence that gender bias is most often experienced by women while receiving care for sexual and reproductive health and chronic pain.
“There is an increasing acknowledgement that chronic pain and many pain conditions, such as migraine or fibromyalgia [a chronic condition that causes body pain and muscle stiffness] affect a much higher proportion of women,” Dr White explains.
Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that nearly 74 per cent of women aged 18 and over experienced bodily pain compared to just over 68 per cent of men. It also found that just over 66 per cent of women experienced interference with work compared to just over 58 per cent of males.
Having your pain dismissed and ignored not only impacts your ability to work and maintain social connections but can also lead to emotional distress.
“The impacts run deep. If women’s pain is being ignored or dismissed, they’re not getting the treatment they need to live well,” she says.
How women’s pain is treated differently
Multiple studies prove women and men are treated differently by doctors when it comes to pain management.
“There is a tendency for women to often tolerate pain because of a fear that they will be dismissed as hysterical or alarmist by health professionals,” says Dr White.
Instead of trying to describe the pain to your doctor, she says it’s more effective to explain the impact it has on your life.
“Pain is a very nebulous thing to describe. It matters less if the pain is stabbing or aching and more that the pain is so bad it stops you from getting out of bed for two days of the week.”
We also need to challenge male and female health professionals to reflect on how they treat patients. In several studies, men were given more time and attention than women even when both presented with the same symptoms.
“To ensure pain management is fair and effective for women, we need to challenge gender norms held by both women and health professionals.”
Also, finding the right GP is paramount, especially if you’re dealing with a persistent or ongoing issue.
“We need to ensure that pain management is fair and effective for women. Women need to be listened to and believed.”
Where to from here
While there has been a shift in recent years, we’ve still got a long way to go when it comes to understanding women’s pain.
If you suffer from persistent pain, educating yourself and employing the right language is the best place to start.
“Be prepared to address the emotional and psychological components of your pain,” advises Dr Jane.
“Educate yourself on your medical condition and discuss potential treatment options with your doctor.”
It’s a sentiment that’s supported by Dr White.
“Momentum is slowly building around having far more open discussions about women’s pain, but if there’s one thing I want women to get angry about and call for change on, it’s to make sure medical research and health care take sex and gender into account.”
To learn more about pain and find ways to manage it, you can visit Jean Hailes for Women’s Health here.
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is a not-for-profit organisation providing health services for women across Australia.
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