A groundbreaking study reveals why men typically bounce back from injuries faster than women, and it all comes down to biology.
Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered that male immune systems are naturally better at stopping pain signals, which may explain why chronic pain affects women more frequently than men.
The research team, led by Geoffroy Laumet, found that specific immune cells called monocytes create a protein known as interleukin-10 that essentially switches off pain messages from nerves. This process is fueled by male hormones like testosterone.
“The difference in pain between men and women has a biological basis. It’s not in your head, and you’re not soft. It’s in your immune system,” Laumet explained.
During experiments with injured laboratory mice, researchers observed that males had significantly more of these pain-blocking immune cells compared to females. The male mice also recovered from injury-related pain much quicker.
The findings were confirmed in human subjects as well. Among 245 people healing from various injuries, men experienced faster pain relief and showed elevated levels of the beneficial monocytes and interleukin-10 protein.
To test the hormone connection, scientists gave testosterone supplements to female mice that had their ovaries surgically removed. These mice showed increased interleukin-10 levels and quicker pain recovery. Conversely, when male mice had their testosterone-producing organs removed, their pain relief slowed dramatically.
The study, published in Science Immunology, suggests that women’s slower pain recovery puts them at higher risk for developing long-term chronic pain conditions.
Researchers say this discovery changes the focus “from how pain starts to why pain persists” and opens doors for developing new treatment approaches.
“This opens new avenues for non-opioid therapies aimed at preventing chronic pain before it’s established,” Laumet noted.
The next phase of research will explore how medical treatments could target this biological pathway to boost interleukin-10 production in patients.
In related medical news, an experimental cancer drug called rezatapopt showed promising results in early trials for treating aggressive tumors with specific genetic mutations. The drug, developed by PMV Pharmaceuticals, targets the Y220C mutation in the p53 gene and helped restore the gene’s ability to suppress tumor growth.
Among 77 patients with advanced cancers that weren’t responding to standard treatments, researchers saw tumors shrink or disappear in 20% of patients with the targeted mutation, with even better results at higher doses.
“Historically, targeted therapy for TP53 mutations has not been available,” the research team wrote in The New England Journal of Medicine.
A larger clinical trial is now underway testing the most effective dose of 2,000 milligrams daily in patients with ovarian, lung, breast, and other solid tumors.
Meanwhile, separate research reveals that state laws restricting abortion access are creating shortages of obstetricians and gynecologists. Data from 2010 to 2021 shows that Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers laws have reduced the number of OB/GYNs by more than two per 100,000 women of childbearing age.
The shortage hasn’t been offset by increases in midwives, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants specializing in women’s health, according to findings published in Health Economics.
“These findings reveal that abortion restrictions can have much broader effects on maternal healthcare access, raising important considerations for policymakers and healthcare systems nationwide,” said study leader Quan Qi from the University at Albany.
