Why Men and Women Experience Pain Differently

It is well-known that men and women perceive pain and respond to analgesics in distinct ways.

A recent study involved 98 participants, both healthy individuals and those suffering from chronic lower back pain. They were trained in pain-relieving meditation techniques. Some participants received a high dose of naloxone—a drug that blocks opioid receptors—before meditating to improve their well-being.

In men, naloxone completely neutralized the pain-relieving effects of meditation. In contrast, for women, it even slightly enhanced the relief. Meditation showed significant benefits for participants with back pain who did not receive naloxone.

The study concludes that men rely on opioid receptors for pain relief, while women engage other biological mechanisms to manage pain.