Men and women experience pain relief differently, and a new study may shed light on why women are more prone to chronic pain and less responsive to opioid treatments. A recent study from the San Diego School of Medicine,

Researchers uncover sex-specific pain management mechanisms, revealing men rely on endogenous opioids while women use alternative pathways for pain relief.

It’s tricky to lump an entire sex together, but research has suggested that some pain medications may be less effective for women. One 2021 study found that ibuprofen tends to be more effective in men than women, while another study discovered that prednisone may cause more uncomfortable side effects in women.

A new study suggests that men and women process pain differently, which is why pain medications are less effective in women. Here's what docs want you to know.