Understanding the gender pain gap affecting women in healthcare

Pain is a significant issue for women accessing healthcare services in the UK, with reports showing that they are disproportionally affected by chronic pain compared with men. Not only are women more likely to experience pain than men, but their pain is also often under-managed. This article examines the gender pain gap, which can result in acute and chronic pain in women being treated differently than in men, and describes the physical and psychological effects this can have on individuals. The author also discusses the limited evidence which currently exists regarding the gender pain gap in the UK and presents some practical interventions that nurses can use to ensure that women's pain is treated equally.