Male and female bodies have many physiological differences, such as levels of certain hormones. Regardless of the same levels of pain sensation, differences in basic biological processes in the two biological sexes may lead to different effectiveness of a particular analgesic treatment. A number of studies have examined how men and women respond to administered pain relievers. Data from a small 1996 study found that women had more effective responses than men after receiving the opioid analgesic Pentazocine for postoperative pain. Normally, this medicinal product is used to treat moderate and severe pain of various origins. Another more recent study from 2021 showed mixed results that Ibuprofen reduced pain more effectively in men than in women. This medication is usually used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and reduce high fever. In addition, the corticosteroid Prednisone has been found to cause more severe side effects in women. These can be respectively heartburn, nausea, bloating, stomach and esophagus ulcers, tongue and esophagus fungus, acute inflammation of the pancreas, gastric hemorrhages and others. One of the theories that explains the differences in pain sensations between the two sexes is hormone levels. Women normally have higher levels of estrogen, which controls the development of the uterus, ovaries, breasts and regulates menstruation. Depending on the localization of this hormone and its amount, it can worsen or improve pain. Testosterone on the other hand is the main male hormone. This anabolic steroid is important in promoting puberty. Pain sensations are also affected by it and can be dulled. In some cases, even patients with chronic pain are treated with testosterone therapy. Therefore, at its lower levels, stronger pain sensations are observed among men. Another explanation for the different levels of tolerance can be explained by the blocking of microglia. When microglial cells are blocked in men, pain is also blocked. However, this mechanism is not effective among women. This is due to the fact that in them the control of pain reactions is carried out by immune cells – T-cells, and not by microglia. Therefore, women with reduced T-cell levels may have a reduced pain tolerance. The latest theory involves ribonucleic acid (RNA). These molecules are responsible for the transfer of information in the body. Scientists suggest that increased levels of RNA in the bloodstream lead to a predisposition to the onset of chronic pain. Many of these nucleic acids are encoded by genes found on the X chromosome, which is important for the development of the female sex. This means that women are likely to be prone to chronic pain. References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8852594/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8037587/