Q&A: Why does women’s pain last longer than men’s?

April 2, 2026

UVA pain psychologist Lori Urban says a new study is part of a broader shift toward including women in research over the past several decades. (Illustration by Meredith Michael Smith, University Communications)

A new suggests that men are less likely than women to experience chronic pain in general, and that their pain is less persistent because testosterone may help with pain management.

Lori Urban, an associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of Virginia, spoke with UVA Today about this latest research and how it connects to her own clinical experience.

Portrait of Lori Urban

Lori Urban, an associate professor of anesthesiology at UVA, facilitates workshops for fellows and residents, including one on how sex, gender and culture impact pain experiences. (Contributed photo)

Q. What are the main takeaways from this new research?

A. This research emphasizes that there are real biological mechanisms that are protective of pain, or that also exacerbate pain in women versus men. The immune system and hormones, as well as an array of other contributing factors, may help to explain why women, overall, tend to have longer-lasting pain experiences.

With this knowledge, there is an even more significant need for individualized approaches to pain management, and the importance of listening to each individual’s story and perception of their pain. Our continued research in this area may likely lead to new treatment methods that highlight immune mechanisms to manage chronic pain differently.

Q. Why is this research important?

A. In addition to my clinical work as a pain psychologist, I facilitate training for pain management fellows and residents. One of these trainings describes individual experiences and expression of pain, including how sex, gender and cultural aspects are related to the interpretation of pain and then how we treat it.

I’m passionate about making sure that health care systems start to understand the individualized approach to managing health and pain, because I have heard many stories from women who have found their pain has been minimized or misunderstood.

Even in children and adolescents with pain, we notice some early changes. In those who are pre-puberty age, chronic pain, such as gastrointestinal issues or migraines, in boys and girls is about equal. Then, after puberty, we find that girls’ experiences with pain increase exponentially, compared to boys.

Q. How has research on pain differences between men and women evolved over time?

A. Until the 1990s, women were really underrepresented in research studies with pain, as were people of color and gender-diverse individuals. It’s nice to see more studies that examine the physiological and biological aspects, such as sex hormones, including the difference between testosterone and estrogen, and what they do in protecting, or not protecting, us from pain.

We’ve seen that testosterone can be a very protective part of managing pain. In this recent study, they’re exploring this neuro-chemical network in the brain that works very differently in men and women. In past research with mice, the female mice were often excluded because of the possible impact of hormones on the studies’ outcomes, and now, this seems like an absurd reason to leave out 50% or more of the population.

Q. What does a pain psychologist do?

A. I am a pain psychologist who is board-certified in clinical health psychology. My expertise is working with individuals with a variety of medical conditions, but specifically with chronic pain. I’ve been at UVA for about 11 years and had previously worked in Indiana, doing similar types of work in pain management and other medical conditions.

I conduct presurgical evaluations for individuals who are potential candidates for an intrathecal pain pump or spinal cord stimulator. The rest of my time is engaged in clinical work. I facilitate therapy addressing pain management strategies, including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral techniques, meditation, activity pacing, grief processing and biofeedback. All of these are methods that help a person manage their pain more effectively, along with other components such as physical therapy, injections/procedures and medications.

Q. What do you want more people to understand?

A. From a pain psychologist’s perspective, it’s important that more people recognize chronic pain from a complete biopsychosocial model. It’s not just some of the biological components that are different in women and men; it’s also lived experiences, adverse childhood events, trauma, social norms, reinforced behaviors, cognitions and a multitude of other influences that all impact a person’s perception and interpretation of their pain.

Media Contacts

Eric Swensen

UVA Health System

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