Oh! It Hurts!

Do women have a higher tolerance for pain?

 

 

 photo credit: Beaulawrence via photopin cc

 

        When I was a teenager I lived with my father for a few years. It was just us two living in a two-bedroom apartment--a regular bachelor pad. During the school year I’d wake up early, get ready, and drive myself to school. One particular morning I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth. I could hear my dad waking up to get ready as well. He walks past me, half asleep, half awake, heading for the toilet. While brushing my teeth, he starts to urinate. Abruptly, he stops urinating and then abruptly starts again. To me it looked like he was about to start having convulsions. He did a quick jerk when his urine stopped flowing and then collapsed against the wall. He passed a kidney stone. It happened so quickly and unexpectedly that my dad didn’t make sound until after the fact. He let a few swear words fly, and was quick to point out what just happened to him. It’s not that I enjoy watching other people in pain, but I couldn’t help myself. I laughed until I nearly passed out and he was laughing right along with me. People compare the pain of giving birth to a child to the pain experienced when passing a kidney stone. I suppose one could say it depends on the size and number of kidney stones but the same could be said about about having children. Most women and scientist assume that women can tolerate greater amounts of pain based on the fact that women have to deliver children. However, several tests have shown that men are actually the ones who are better at tolerating pain.
        A study by pain scientist Dr. Osama Tashani recruited 200 British and Libyan volunteers to conduct a series of tests to determine their tolerance for pain. The tests involved hitting the volunteers in the hand with a blunt object and handcuffing their hands above their heads to prevent blood from flowing properly. The results proved that men were able to handle pain better and were less likely to say anything about it. And that women were more sensitive and quicker to respond to the pain.
        Correspondingly, other studies have shown that this similarity does not stop with just the human species, but in fact animals show the same characteristics. In a column by Maia Szalavitz, who writes for MSN Health & Fitness, interviewed a professor who specializes in pain. Jeffrey Mogil, Ph.D., studies pain at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He says that, "Females are more sensitive to pain, less tolerant and more able to discriminate different levels of pain than males."
        Interestingly, there is one odd fact to these studies, and it’s women with red hair. In the article by Maia Szalavitz, she explains that redheads have been shown to have a higher tolerance for pain when compared to blondes or brunettes. Redheads also tend to be more resistant to anesthesia and usually require 20% more anesthesia than others and that they require lesser amounts of painkillers. I can personally relate to this. My mother, who is red headed, gave birth to all five of her children without the numbing effects of an epidural. The tolerance of pain is only unique for redheaded women; redheaded men tested the same when compared to other men.
        Guys, this isn’t intended to give a hidden message to be hard on your girlfriend or wife when she’s complaining of menstrual pains. Also, if you’re blessed enough to experience your partner giving birth, be very supportive and caring. You wouldn’t want something the size of a large pumpkin coming out of you.