Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Quantifying Pain Experience – An Illustrative Approach Using the Pain Body Diagram
Published on: July 7, 2023
Women's experiences of living with chronic pain: A qualitative meta-synthesis
Sukhvinder Biring1, Amy E Burton1, Lynn Dunwoody2
1Centre for Health and Development, School of Health, Education, Policing and Sciences, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
Objectives:
The prevalence of chronic pain varies between males and females, and they also have distinct pain experiences. Improved understanding of these unique experiences is needed to improve support.
Design:
This meta-synthesis aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of women's lived experiences with chronic pain.
Methods:
Six electronic databases were searched in May and June 2022: PubMed Central, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL Plus), the Health Research Premium Collection, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Studies were included if they were full-text journal articles, reported in English, presented qualitative findings obtained using qualitative research methods and focused on the experience of females over eighteen years old, living with chronic pain (not associated with cancer or conditions that are terminal). The search was updated in November 2024.
Results:
Analysis of the seventy studies retrieved identified four themes: Pain and Multiple Responsibilities; Countless Losses (and Their Psychological Effects); Lack of Understanding: Delegitimizing and Disempowering Encounters; and Solace and Self-Empowerment. Confidence in all four themes was evaluated as high.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that there are common themes that run through the lives of women living with chronic pain across a range of different age groups, locations and conditions. These domains present actionable opportunities to enhance pain management and well-being for women living with chronic pain.
Related Concept Videos
Analgesia and Pain Management
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Pain

