Why women feel chronic pain more than men

A groundbreaking study published in Science Immunology has uncovered a biological basis for why women experience more chronic pain than men—and it’s rooted in the immune system.

Researchers at Michigan State University found that certain immune cells called monocytes produce an anti-inflammatory protein, interleukin-10, that effectively “turns off” pain signals from nerve cells.

Production of these pain-relieving cells is driven by male sex hormones like testosterone. In experiments with injured mice, males had higher numbers of IL-10-producing monocytes and faster pain resolution than females.

The same pattern held in a study of 245 humans recovering from injuries: men showed faster pain relief associated with higher levels of monocytes and IL-10.

Giving testosterone to female mice boosted their pain recovery, while removing testes from males delayed it.

The findings explain why women are at greater risk of transitioning from acute to chronic pain.

Lead researcher Geoffroy Laumet emphasized, “It’s not in your head, and you’re not soft. It’s in your immune system.”