A recent study published in PNAS Nexus found that men rely on endogenous opioids for pain relief, while women may use alternative mechanisms. The study involved 98 participants and revealed that meditation reduced pain in both sexes, but naloxone, an opioid antagonist, only diminished pain relief in males. This suggests that women do not rely on endogenous opioids for pain management as men do. The findings underscore the need for sex-specific pain treatments, as women may not respond well to traditional opioid-based interventions. Continued research into non-opioid pain relief strategies, particularly for women, is crucial based on these results.
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It’s official! Men and women experience and manage pain differently
