Is it a fact that women have a higher pain tolerance than men?

Question

Seems like it's just a myth to me. From my experience men generally have a higher pain tolerance. The myth that women have a higher pain tolerance was created because without any evidence whatsoever women came to the conclusion that men could not handle childbirth.

NearlyNapping · Accepted Answer

It may be a fact, it may not. I don't think it's known. I have seen arguments and studies that indicate there may be a difference between men and women, but I think it's far from conclusive.

I've also seen evidence that men feel certain types of pain more, and women feel other types of pain more. There is even evidence that different nationalities and races feel / tolerate pain differently.

As near as I can tell none of it is conclusive.

There is difficulty defining pain. It's also difficult to define pain tolerance. To me, pain tolerance means experiencing the same level of pain. If two people are not experiencing the same level of pain in the first place, it's hard to compare their tolerance.

This is similar to the old debate on whether various animals feel pain, and to what degree. There is some scientific consensus on this for some animals, but not others.

How do you even study such things? Go around cutting people's fingers off and asking how much it hurts on a scale of 1-10? The real studies I've seen are more scientific than that, but are still lacking. There is simply no way to compare the pain of one person to another.

Juxtapose · Accepted Answer

Women give birth, men go to war. The toughest people in the world are men though, no contest. Just look at who goes into the special forces or participates in the Pain Olympics.

dragonfly6516 · Accepted Answer

That's like trying to compare childbirth to being kicked in the nuts. There's no way to compare, unless a man gives birth. We can "sort of" find out what being kicked in the nuts feels like if our ovaries ever get twisted up, but it's still not the same.

Gender isn't a factor in pain tolerance. I think it just boils down to the fact that women react to pain more, and that only creates the illusion that our pain is more intense.

Reacting vocally to pain actually serves no purpose or function in modern society, since it's only use was to alert companions of your plight, and possible danger. Knowing this, it's illogical to scream when you're in pain. If you think about it, you only do it because you've been conditioned to, and it's easy to train yourself not to.

Men, being the protectors, wouldn't want a potential threat being aware that he is injured or otherwise incapacitated, therefore men simply keep quieter when in pain.

Vmm90 · Accepted Answer

I can't speak on behalf of the other gender nor anyone else in general. I only know my tolerance levels and typically when I get hurt I laugh.

KhalidAmerican · Accepted Answer

No, women are pussies. You gotta have balls 🏀 if you wanna tolerate pain.

CubsterShura · Accepted Answer

Pain is subjective, period.

englisc · Answer

It's a myth. Women are more sensitive to touch. In childbirth they get a rush of adrenaline that numbs some of the pain and keeps them conscious. Otherwise no they don't have a higher pain tolerance generally. They're more likely to cry over getting hurt.

Rodismus · Answer

If I had the research article off hand I would link it but I don't. Women are typically champs when it comes to pain and endurance while men can handle higher amounts of pain for shorter duration.

I'll use myself as an example here. I got hit by a car riding my bike, got up, walked away and cleaned myself up. Got to work in the next hour. I was a big ass baby over the pain that stuck around for the next week. According to the study, that's where women would have rocked out like champs. Hope that makes sense.

Kuraj · Answer

This is complete bogus.
Men have a higher pain threshold, as concluded by every study and piece of evidence available.

Women take more pain medication, suffer pain more frequently and describe it to be of higher intensity than men do etc etc etc.

They even did tests that tried to disprove this by suggesting men just "act macho" and are "emotionally repressed to sustain their image".
So they offered women money as incentive to withstand pain, results?
They still failed.

0112358 · Answer

This has been studied repeatedly.

Women on average have a significantly lower pain tolerance.

Depends on the individual of course. Certain types of training definitely increase pain tolerance. It's extremely hard to say whether this affect is physical or entirely due to how we socialize children - boys are pushed to suck up pain more than girls are.

Demosiac · Answer

Tolerant or not to pain depends on the person and the mental. Pain comes from the nerves, more nerve = more pain. But you cannot quantify a mental strength.
Any data that tries to calculate the tolerance of pain from either gender is already biased since men and women's body are biologically differs. (2nd paragraph is opinion)

AynonOMouse · Answer

Easily disproved.
Have 1 person punch a man and a woman with the same amount of force. The woman will be hurt much more.
There are things much worse than giving birth (according to my mom that gave birth twice with no pain medication/shots)
And comparing the things she said were worse than giving birth, me and my father both have experienced/tolerated those things.

dolemite68 · Answer

I've heard a doctor say kidney stones are more painful than childbirth and kidney stones are more painful for men cuz they have a longer distance to travel. Women go through painful things sure but I think to say they're together than men is patting themselves on the back

castratedwhiteguy · Answer

It's a fact that women handle the pain of child birth better than guys deal with the pain of being kicked in the balls. Why this comparison is relevant is beyond me? But that's where this myth originated from. I suggest that you read some hard core history to learn the real facts...

YHL6965 · Answer

Men experienced the mental and physical horrors of war way more frequently than women and survived. Not as much can be said about women, regardles of how painful giving birth is. However, this is just an opinion, I haven't seen any concrete research on the subject so I can certainly be mistaken.

Barrabus_the_Free · Answer

No, that's bullshit "Rah rah grrrlpower" propaganda. Females might deal with pain better than whiny little bitchmales, but *men* handle pain FAR better than women.

Chrysis · Answer

Afaik, women perceive something as 'painful' faster than men, but can handle pain better. From what I've seen that seems to be mostly true.

Longlegs1979 · Answer

I agree the time of month when we’re bloating I love to see a man go through it just once I’d think that be hilarious 😆. If pain get to much there always alcohol.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, women generally have a much higher pain tolerance than men. Look at the child birth they go through, they go through lot of pain So yes i believe women have a higher pain tolerance than men.

Crazyb33 · Answer

Me and my fiance have actually talked about this a few times and I've even proved most women can take a lot more pain then men

troychapman · Answer

this is a biased poll wheres the option of we have equally as much tolerance we just dont experience it as much option?

RuthAnn1781 · Answer

I think it depends on the person honestly. Also, I'd love MHO if you're offering lol

madgoat · Answer

Well I'm told this is true, but told by my wife. Relates to having to tolerate child birth apparently.

someone1990 · Answer

Women deal with pain more frequently so we are used to it

Dxk007 · Answer

I would say that, men could handle pain better than women if subjected to it but, women have a lot more experience to pain than we do like periods, child birth etc.

AlphaM1 · Answer

I don't really agree with that because it depends on the context.

DesiBeautyLover · Answer

From my own experience I have found it to be women. And they proved it on Mythbusters too. I mean, once you've had a child you can handle anything

ronaldo75 · Answer

Total myth. I've seen women cry from bruised knees after falling on rollerblades. Literally crying like a child. At 26 years old.

HamAndCheese · Answer

Experiments have suggested that it is not the case, though the data seems a little incomplete.

Viranda · Answer

I think it's the opposite, but I haven't really looked for any research about it.

Kranjec · Answer

We feel it in the same way. Men are brought up to man up and ignore it, women are cry babies.

tampaxgirl · Answer

Men would die trying to push out a kid. I can handle any kind of pain.

UsernameMadness · Answer

On average, yes. It's been proved by science. Also women have a higher pain tolerance after they have children.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't think that women have higher tolerance because they just cry even for small pain

disgustingweebtrash · Answer

No, men generally have a higher pain tolerance than women.

Anonymous · Answer

That's a gender stereotype and social construct. Biological gender is a myth.

Cody_Travers · Answer

Yes, women generally have a much higher pain tolerance than men.

BoyIfYouDont666 · Answer

Well, we gotta ask scientist.

MayBlythe · Answer

It depends on the person not the gender

PrincessPie · Answer

I'd have to disagree.

BronzedAdonis · Answer

depends, could men tolerate childbirth?

Nate1941 · Answer

depends on the person. Not the gender

Taratara12 · Answer

Hell yeah girls that tolerate more

Groisu · Answer

Tolerance is something you build up

Decentguy · Answer

A baby comes out of their vagina, So yeah

dogfish · Answer

um yeah thats why they give birth

Anonymous · Answer

Generally meaning on average, yes

woooooooo · Answer

I think men can endure more than woman

ladsin · Answer

Neither?

omgjassy · Answer

True story

Phoenix98 · Answer

Lol no.

Dom-Love · Answer

No this it not true.

Unit1 · Answer

Complete bullshit.

LeeKenz · Answer

I would say yes.

awanti95 · Answer

Not agree

thenewgirlll · Answer

I don't know and idc

Is it a fact that women have a higher pain tolerance than men?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Is it a fact that women have a higher pain tolerance than men?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.