However, a study published in the wonderfully named Journal of Pain (even more wonderful than their emo teen diary title is their rapper website jpain.org) found on average women scored their pain levels 1 point higher than men.
Disappointingly the study was not comprised of poking 100 volunteers with sticks and asking them to rate the pain.
The authors of the study said: "Our data support the idea that sex differences exist, and they indicate that clinicians should pay increased attention to this idea"
Women reported to experience more joint pain, digestion trouble (maybe those yoghurt adverts aren’t so peculiarly marketed), migraines and breathing disorders.
Once again however social and cultural programming rears its ugly, science results skewing head. Atul Butte from Stanford University in the US, the senior author of the study acknowledged the desire to be macho might hinder men from admitting the amount of pain they are in.
Butte said: "Men may be under-reporting it, say if they are being seen by a female nurse"
It is possible therefore, that men and women do experience the same levels of pain and the only difference is how and when they report it.
Previous studies on pain have revealed women’s pain perception can be effected by their levels of the hormone oestrogen. During childbirth high levels of oestrogen stimulate the production of endorphins which suppress pain.
Kate