Does the Gut Microbiome Hold the Key to Gender Differences in Pain?

The gut microbiome has been linked to higher pain responses in women in an APC Microbiome Ireland study led by University College Cork’s Dr Siobhain O’Mahony and Prof George Shorten. The study published in the journal Brain Behaviour and Immunity highlights the possibilities for innovative individual targeted therapies for pain management. Notably women demonstrated different pain thresholds at various stages of their menstrual cycles.

Gender differences in pain conditions as well as therapy to reduce pain have been known for some time. While several factors such as genetic, neuronal, hormonal, psychological and social factors have been identified as potentially playing a role in these differences the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Yet information on which factors are more important in pain could inform the development of urgent and effective gender specific treatments.