Why can women handle physical pain and sickness better than men?

1. 65

   PK2010posted 13 years ago

   Why can women handle physical pain and sickness better than men?

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   mindyjgirlposted 13 years ago

   I have always wondered that myself It seems when my husband gets sick the world ends and when it happens to me its whats for dinner!! LOL

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   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   There is a small average difference (not *all* women deal with it better than *all* men) probably due to the need to endure childbirth.

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   krisingreenposted 13 years ago

   i used to believe that too but handling pain and sicknesses actually has nothing to do with being male or female but instead it has something to do with cultural norms. Females biologically gives birth and all that and that's basically why women are mentally prepared to handle pain and sicknesses while men are not because they do not give birth. Men are also often expected by society to live up to its expectations even when they are hurting inside. And when an opportunity comes for them to show their softer more vulnerable side, women tend to think that they can't handle pain and sicknesses like women. I guess the handling of pain also depends on what it is, right?

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   MazioCreateposted 13 years ago

   The other answers have summed it up - childbirth. We've got hormones that may drive us crazy at times, but at other times they are our life savers.

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   BizGenGirlposted 13 years ago

   It's part of our ability to make and give birth to babies. Women need an exponentially higher pain threshold to be able to make it through the gestation and birth process and survive to tell about it. Because of this ability, women can withstand great amounts of pain and after a certain amount of time with extended pain, their bodies can create anti-pain hormones that help to get them through to pain free times.

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   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   i didn't know they could. other then child birth, i doubt or have never noticed women handling any pain better then men. i break a finger, i wrap it in a splint and get back to work, do you?

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   vinsanityposted 13 years ago

   Maybe, but I think that women are brought up in a more sheltered environment and have been told to live a more sheltered lifestyle so getting hurt seems worse. Although this does not apply to all women by any means.

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   Trevor Davisposted 13 years ago

   I'm incredibly sorry but of what evidence suggests this? With all the stupid things men do at an early age with purple nurples, shoulder punches, bloody knuckles, wedgies, and the such men have toughened themselves from some physical pain from an early age. But for women theres childbirth and menstruation. I'm not saying who feels more pain but i seriously believe that both sexes handle it quite equally. Women and men are just built differently and with different areas of sensitivity across the body.

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    nipnapcreationsposted 13 years ago

    I don't know this for fact, but I'm guessing because of their better suited overall nurturing qualities. Like I said this is all matter of opinion, but I think women can deal with emotional pain, sickness, and health issues, better than men, not just physically but mentally too. Comparing average to average that is. Sure some women and some men out there may be better at each element or both, than each other, but the average male to the average female, females trump us.

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    Lisa Gateleyposted 13 years ago

    Okay, so many people believe that childbirth is the answer to why women can handle pan and illness. I disagree. As a woman, I don't think that giving birth to a child has anything to do with having the mental capacity to deal with pain or illness or anything else. It depends on the person and his/her ability to deal with whatever ailes them. It is true that most men seem to completely turn into children when they're sick, but I think that's mostly because we (women) don't normally see them acting as such. Now women have to deal with the pain and illness in different ways because most of the time there is a limited amount of "help" we can get during the time we're sick to do the things we need to do, therefore we have to "push through the pain" and do what needs to be done. However I think that men also have the capacity to do this.
    
    In a nutshell, it depends on the PERSON not the SEX as to whether or not pain and sickness is handled better than the other. Men are allowed to be weak sometimes, just as women are allowed to be strong. Somewhere in the warped universe, some people still assume that there is a weaker sex. While men and women are very different, I like to think we compensate for each other.

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    Onlinemidwifeposted 13 years ago

    Women can do childbirth, and muti-task -some men dont!
    They have man-flu, the world ends....my husband can vouch for that. I think some men are alot more softer than you think some may have a hard exterior but underneath it all they are very sensitive!
    When we have flu- we work and sort the kids out so we got no time to be ill....and we cope with things better.
    So it must be in our genetic make up!

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    Jonesy0311posted 13 years ago

    Where are you finding all of these sissified men? I can't remember the last time I took a sick day or went to the doctor. However, I need more than my fingers and toes to count how many times I've had to babysit my wife on the couch because of a headache, back spasm, hot flash, etc. Maybe these guys need to live a while in the country and quit relying on vaccinations every flu season. Eating real food from real animals and vegetables might help too.
    
    There is a reason that Marine Corps boot camp is not co-ed. I've never seen a woman stitch her own wound or hike a combat load on a broken ankle. Obviously, this doesn't apply to ALL men and ALL women. But, you ladies need to start looking for men outside of the cities if this is what your options are looking like.

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    Dawn the Chipposted 13 years ago

    A lot of the time women cope with pain and illness because they have to. A man can get 'man flu' and feel that he should just lie in bed to recover as the best option, after all most have a mother, wife or girlfriend to bring them things, or no responsibilities at all.
    
    A women with the same illness, just feels crap with a cold, she continues because she has children to feed, washing to do, shopping to get, and if manflu has taken over the house, her husband to look after as well!!
    I watched myth busters on this subject. They found that women who hadnt had children had even slightly lower thresholds of pain that men, but women after childbirth had a staggering resistance to pain.
    Of course this is generalised, and doesn't apply to everyone.

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    Brian Andersonposted 13 years ago

    I think women are genetically programmed to handle pain better, mostly due to the predisposition of being able to give birth..

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    Mansoor Saeedposted 13 years ago

    I think this ability is embedded in women by nature.

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17. 60

    powerofknowledge1posted 13 years ago

    I think men are only strong physically they don't have patience to face the physical pain and sickness. I m not criticizing men. But its my opinion that women are much more stronger than men even mentally. Women sacrifice more than men. Like
    When they are just a kid or a daughter they sacrifice their chocolates for their brother.
    When they are young they sacrifice their boy friend for their parents as some time parents don't like their boy friend.
    When they get married they sacrifice their job for their husband.
    When they become a mother they sacrifice their friends, relatives for their children as their exams or schools are going on.
    
    So at every stage of their life they do sacrifice which men cannot do. This shows women are mentally more stronger than men.

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    My Footprintsposted 13 years ago

    Because they are created to handle more pain. I guess the worst pain to bear is child birth. Nothing beats it.

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19. 86

    tsmogposted 13 years ago

    Great question. I do not have the answer. But, I have more questions because of this. I suppose it may have something to do with physiology, culture as stated earlier, socialization process, and who says so?

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    Allen Williamsposted 13 years ago

    @PK2010
    I wasn't aware of any study that proved that women can handle physical pain and sickness better than men.  I sure haven't seen that in my lifetime.  I don't know, I guess it depends who you hang around.  I have been though many sicknesses myself and have handled it quite well while at the same time I heard women crying that they are so sick and can't take it.  I've been through pain that probably most people would not be able to stand but I handled it.  How can one compare the pain level that someone feels and say that your pain is more or that the other person cannot handle it?  I just don't see where you are coming from on this question.

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       Levertis Steeleposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Men are better at solving problems involving emotional pain w/o a lot of drama. Women are better at managing physical pain. When a man gives birth without dying, I will be ready to change my views.

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    LoveJewelposted 13 years ago

    So funny you asked this question. I was just thinking to myself how is it i can maintain my daily schedule with a common cold, yet my husband has shut down his entire rotation due to the same cold. I believe us women were built to be stronger, not so much physically, but mentally. We see things differently, this survivial mode kicks in more so when something is keeping us down.There is this mental strength that drive the physical part of us.

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22. 61

    vansh121posted 13 years ago

    Because they have more tolerance power than men. Men usually react soon, but women tries to suppress their pain and sickness till it become intolerable for them.

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23. 60

    missoliveposted 13 years ago

    women are usually one to nurture others regardless of our surroundings and issues. We are expected (and expect from ourselves) to continue caring for others despite our illnesses - so we end up with a, "get over it" attitude when it comes to ourselves.
    
    Perhaps I feel this way due to my mom and grandmother - they were non-stop domestic dynamos and held high expectations for me as a woman.
    
    Funny, I teach middle school and this somewhat relates to the topic. I had one of my female students approach me to talk. She says, "Miss, I'm realizing guys are just a bunch of wimps!" I could not stop laughing. I told her, "yeah, but don't let them know it" and she responds, "that's exactly what my mom said!" lol

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24. 0

    Wentworth35posted 13 years ago

    I certainly think there would be a lot more problems involved if men were to start giving birth.  I have noticed too that women seem to be able to handle the sight of blood better than some men.  Maybe because they are much more used to seeing it.  I know if I get a paper cut, I have to put my hand against the wall to stop me from fainting.

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25. 0

    lostwithinmyselfposted 13 years ago

    I have been wondering this myself too lol..OMG mindy that sounds like my hubby too.. May be women were given higher pain thresholds to cope with things like childbirth etc? Who knows eh lol! x

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    MonclerKids01posted 13 years ago

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27. 38

    adanpt1posted 13 years ago

    Sorry, but this question is worded with an embedded assumption that is not true. Women do not handle physical pain and sickness better than men, so asking why is nonsensical. Scientific studies have demonstrated exactly the opposite.
    
    http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic … -key-to-pa
    
    http://health.msn.com/health-topics/pai … -threshold
    
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/ … ekey=51160
    
    Sorry to pop the bubble here, but don't blame me... blame science and facts.

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    tlmcgaa70posted 13 years ago

    it isnt so much that women can handle pain better than men. everything boils down to the individual. very few women can handle the rigors of being a firefighter. not just the strength it takes to be one, but the injuries that they often suffer. There is a police officer who recently got shot, along with two others. the other two officers sadly, did not make it. even though the bullet entered his head, traveled down his face and buried itself into his chest, where it remains, even though his jaw is still wired and immovable, he is back on the job...two weeks early. that is pretty strong if you ask me. there are many women who are tremendous big babies. they complain about every little pain they have. so there are weak men and weak women...strong men and strong women...but you cant say it is gender determined. it doesnt work that way.

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    OneFineG467posted 13 years ago

    God given certain qualities that separates woman and man so that they complement each other..
    
    I don't know this fact is true with all woman and man ...
    
    Sometime i try to keep men and women in a lighter mood and not lose cool before they get hardened due to pressure

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30. 93

    rajan jollyposted 13 years ago

    A big YES and the biggest proof is only women can bear labour pains

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    Kawaljit kaurposted 13 years ago

    For centuries, women have been ruled by men in different forms; before marriage by fathers, after marriage by husbands and later on by sons. With the passage of generations, this has made her mentally strong to bear all this. So, this could have been the reason that women can handle physical pain and sickness better than men.

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       Gene Novakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       This is not true look up men handle pain better than women in google.  There are studies that consistently show you can't handle pain as well as us.

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32. 62

    Pollyannalanaposted 13 years ago

    There are some whiny women but for the most part I think men are the weaker too and I do believe anyone who has experienced childbirth can put up with so much. It does seem to me too that I don't get the pity when I am sick that I give my husband when he is. Probably I do it less anymore because of that unless it is something really serious of course.

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    funnytechposted 13 years ago

    Physical pain? As far as I understand it it is the opposite way around..
    
    http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/ … ekey=51160
    http://news.discovery.com/human/women-men-pain.html

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    Erin Boggs1posted 13 years ago

    My guess is because we know what it feels like to give birth or to even menstrate. As women we become immune to pain because we are naturally subjected to pain during the course of our lives.

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       Gene Novakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Look up men handle pain better than women in google.  Studies show you don't handle it as well as us despite the BS that keeps getting regurgitated.

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35. 58

    special securityposted 13 years ago

    Because women become pregnant and absorb a great pain of the world.Men do not get that experience.

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    FW Keyesposted 13 years ago

    LOL. I think it is God's gift to women to help them handle pain during the birthing process, but I don't think women are generally able to handle physical pain, better than men, in every area. I think men may whine about their pain more, which makes it seem, as if they are not able to handle it. I think men love getting that attention from their significant other, mother's, and sister's etc.

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    soniacharanposted 13 years ago

    they are more mature than men...
    they attain maturity earlier...
    thats why women marry men older to them because
    it binds maturity gap...

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    Majadezposted 13 years ago

    I guess we're made that way... However, there's no way to actually prove it.  How can you judge whether your pain is greater or lesser than that of another person.  Even if you go through similar injuries, we all seem to handle pain differently.  Therefore, I'm not entirely sure that it is true.

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       Gene Novakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Glad you said that, look up men handle more pain in google.  There have been a few studies done in the last 10 years that consistently show men do handle pain much better than women.

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    KristiFposted 13 years ago

    Thats how we were built! We are built to give birth.. i cant imagine a greater pain

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       Gene Novakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Look up men handle pain better than women in google.  Studies over the years have repeatedly shown men handle pain better.  There is no proof for the inverse it's just women patting themselves on the back again over nothing.

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    larry71posted 13 years ago

    This is not a 100% fact.  It is a theory. 
    I know you're thinking "oh no here's a man answering" 
    The facts I've seen with my own eyes throughout my life.
    Most women believe that "because they can give birth" they can withstand more pain.  This is false.  Millions of women can't deal with it that's why they have epidurals, shunts and pain meds during the labor process to deaden the pain.  They can't deal with it. 
    I've had female relatives, and friends alike say they can't stand pain. 
    And I've heard many women say kidney stones and gaul stones hurt way more than giving birth. 
    Even have heard Doctors  make this statement that the kidney stones and gaul stones are more painful.  The reason for that is during pregnancy the body prepares for the birth and the cervix is softened to allow passage of the baby.  The passage ways the gaul stones and kidney stones take don't have this happen.  So they are therefore under much more force and stress than the crevix for this reason. Although these passage ways have some ability to stretch aren't designed to.  Resulting in much more pain. 
    As for the fact many men carry on the way they do, isn't an indicator of pain intollerance, it's the fact they want to be cared for like children and know they will receive it from the caregiver.  Usually the spouse or significant other.
    And due to the fact most women are maternal in nature follow suit and play nurse.  You have been duped. 
    Back to the point that woman can handle more is a falacy.  They project the "tough" act because they don't want to appear weak and frail. 
    This is an exact opposite to the male "act"  if truth be told most men and women can stand the same amount. It's only perceived otherwise due to the "acts" mentioned above. 
    thanks for posing the question and the opportunity to answer.

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    TheOracleKingposted 13 years ago

    Can women handle more pain then men? What are you basing this answer on? Have you done tests?  Did you kidnap an equal amount of men and women for a control group? Did you then torture them and analyse the meta data? Did you publish the results of scrutiny within the science community? Was your control group angry about being kidnapped? Did they press charges?
    
    So many questions!

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    lafamilliaposted 13 years ago

    THIS IS THE FACT. I have personal experience with this. I tooootally agree with this. I had an girlfriend that was heroin addict,just like me - and she went trough cold-turkey and I couldn't. I've finished on MMT.

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       Gene Novakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       This is not fact, look up men handle pain better than women in google.  There have been multiple studies showing men consistently handle more pain.

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    mirza shahzadposted 13 years ago

    i think its just a different way of dealing with it.

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    Choxyposted 13 years ago

    ...because we were built for childbirth.
    
    Haha. I dunno. I honestly think my husband does better with pain than I do.

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    zipline05posted 13 years ago

    I really don't know the answer. It seems that both are equal, and it only depends on how one handles the situation.

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    Whimsical Chairposted 13 years ago

    Simple . . . because they are women.  When they are born, no matter what society they are in, they are part of a ___ gender.  I couldn't figure out what word to use, so I left it blank.

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    sensiblescorpioposted 13 years ago

    we were built for it prime example men cant  have children our bodies were made to be in constant pain and distress yet our faces were made to grin and bear it....

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    kat74posted 13 years ago

    When God was creating a woman, he knew what kind of difficulties life will through at her. He knew living with a man was going to be a challenge to her so he gave her enough strength and courage to be able to deal with all that. The strength of a woman is what keeps the family together, a man can provide and love but He will always need a woman to clue his family together.

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    Zabbellaposted 13 years ago

    Women were equipped to have a higher pain threshold. I believe that it is due to the child-bearing reason. Just as they can cradle a child in their arms longer than a man can.  Their forearms have a curve that is different than a man's.
    Women also are warmer in the center of their bodies for child-bearing and men have warmer hands and feet  because they were equipped for hunting. 
    (Yes...that was my A-Ha! moment when I saw that on 20-20.)

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       Gene Novakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       There have been plenty of studies done in the last 10 years that have consistently shown men to handle much more pain than women.  Look up men handle more pain in google.

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    terrektwoposted 13 years ago

    This really hasn't been my experience at all, aside from child birth, possibly my opinions biased but anyone offering their opinion on this is either a man and a woman and thus biased as well. Overall I think it really does depend on the person and their pain threshold.

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