Pain affects millions of people worldwide, influencing everything from sleep and physical activity to emotional well-being. However, new research suggests that women experience pain more frequently than men, with particularly noticeable differences during adulthood.

Published in Nature Medicine in October 2026, the international study analysed data from more than six million people. Researchers found that women consistently reported higher rates of pain across different body regions, while many symptoms became increasingly common before the age of 55.

What Did The Researchers Discover?

Scientists examined information from 6,125,459 people across 118 countries, collected between 1990 and 2025. Participants ranged in age from five to over 100, and approximately 55% were female.

The analysis covered 11 areas of the body, including the head, face, neck, shoulders, back, abdomen and major joints.

Women reported pain more frequently than men in every area examined. The largest differences involved headaches, pain in the face and abdominal discomfort.

These findings highlight the importance of understanding how pain experiences vary between different population groups.

Why Does Pain Increase Before 55?

Pain generally becomes more common with age, but researchers identified particularly rapid increases before 55. This trend was especially noticeable in areas associated with musculoskeletal conditions, including the back, hips and knees. Changes in muscles, joints and connective tissues may contribute to discomfort, alongside physical activity levels, existing medical conditions and other lifestyle factors.

However, different symptoms followed different patterns. Severe pain reached its highest reported prevalence around age 50, while widespread pain peaked closer to 70.

These variations suggest that prevention and treatment strategies may need to change throughout adulthood.

Back Pain Is The Most Common Complaint

Back pain affected approximately 40% of participants, making it the most frequently reported symptom. Pain in the face was the least common, affecting around 2%.

Dr Neel Anand, an orthopaedic spine surgeon at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, explained that prolonged sitting, insufficient exercise and poor posture can contribute to spinal discomfort. He also noted that spinal discs gradually lose moisture and flexibility with age, potentially increasing susceptibility to degenerative changes. Excess body weight may further contribute to certain spinal problems.

How Income And Lifestyle Affect Pain

The study identified associations between pain prevalence and several socioeconomic and health-related factors. Obesity and lower household income were linked to a substantial proportion of the estimated global pain burden. Together, these factors were associated with approximately 18.3% of the burden across the body regions examined.

Obesity showed particularly strong associations with pain in weight-bearing joints, including the knees, hips and ankles. Lower income was associated with higher pain prevalence across all body areas. The difference was especially pronounced for chest pain, which was reported more than twice as frequently in the lowest income group as in the highest.

However, these associations do not establish that individual factors directly caused the symptoms.

When Should You Seek Medical Advice?

Dr Vernon Williams, a sports neurologist at Cedars-Sinai, explained that persistent pain should be assessed by a healthcare professional, particularly when it disrupts sleep, mobility or everyday activities.

He also recommended seeking medical evaluation when discomfort is accompanied by numbness, tingling or muscle weakness. Williams emphasised that effective pain management may involve several approaches, including appropriate exercise, sufficient sleep and relaxation techniques.

Treatment should be tailored to the underlying condition and individual needs. Sudden or severe chest pain, particularly with breathlessness or faintness, requires emergency medical attention.

What This Means For Women's Health

The findings provide important evidence that pain prevalence differs according to gender, age and socioeconomic circumstances. Nevertheless, the research relied on self-reported symptoms and cannot establish the biological or social causes of these differences. Further studies could help scientists understand why women report higher pain rates and how prevention strategies might be improved.

For individuals experiencing persistent discomfort, recognising symptoms early and obtaining appropriate medical care remain essential steps towards protecting long-term health and quality of life.