Women have a higher pain threshold than men

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

"I'm kind of eating my words at the moment because it I think there is something in this experiment …"Dr Andrew Rochford

WATCH: What's Good For You, every Wednesday 7.30pm, Channel Nine

Science now tells us that men and women experience pain differently. But can men handle what is apparently one of the most agonising of human experiences?

MORE VIDEOS: What's Good For You

Our host and father of three, Dr Andrew Rochford, will undergo a simulated labour in order to gain a better understanding of the childbirth process and explore the range of pain relief techniques currently available for women in labour.

Explaining the pain
The pelvic area is rich in nerves that respond sharply to both pressure and pain. The pressure of contractions and the stretching of the surrounding tissue is then perceived as pain. Tension of the muscles in that area will add to the perception of pain. The pain from the stretched tissues during contractions sends impulses along the nerves and then to the spinal cord. The spinal cord will stop some of the impulses, and allow others to continue into the brain, where they are perceived as pain.

The simulation
Obviously, we could never put a man through the full experience of childbirth but we can simulate the pain caused by contractions during child birth labour. By attaching low-voltage electrodes to Andrew's abdominal muscles we are able to contract the muscles, simulating the pain experienced in child birth. Over time, the voltage was heightened and each time, each shock was delivered closer together.

Sources of pain during labour and birth
An emotional source of pain can be fear of the unknown, and also a lack of education. Functional sources of pain can be cervical dilatation, contractions, descent of the baby, and the position of the baby.

Results/outcome
Pain relief The pain relief options that Andrew tried:

Stress balls
Focusing on something else — take your mind elsewhere
Positioning, for example on all fours on a gym ball
Relaxation and breathing techniques
Support team
Nitrous oxide

Conclusion
Andrew lasted three hours and 32 minutes. The contractions lasted for 60 seconds and were two minutes apart. "Men of the world, you have no idea. Leave it to the women. Forget the whole pain-threshold debate. We have nothing. Women win, men don't. The end. (I'm glad that's over!)" — Dr Andrew Rochford

Important note:
It is not intended that the information in this program or website be substituted for the benefits obtained from consultation with, and treatment by, a qualified health practitioner. Nor is it intended to directly or indirectly prescribe the use of various remedies without the consent of your health practitioner. If you are under medical care for any condition, seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner before acting on any suggestions in this program or website and do not make any adjustments to prescribed medication without their approval.

YOUR SAY: Do you think women handle pain better than men?

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User reviews

so what pain do men go through that is worse than labour?

I agree with Maz, men and women would likely handle it equally as much were the rolls reversed. Its about the person.

I think it was great that a man wanted to know what labour was actually like. I think woman deal with the pain of labour better because in a genuine pregnancy you've had nine months for your body to prepare its self ready for the labour and you have this wonderfull reward for having gone through it at the end. Dr Andrew Rochfords reward was the satisfaction of knowing what it was like but I wonder if he would be prepared to go through it for 10 or more hours and to do it two or three times for the same result and reason,

Read what "sirskeptic" wrote! Nothing could be closer to the truth! Men are built to handle physical pain much more than women, and clearly the tv show didn't want to show a side by side comparison because the man would have well surpassed the women! I think people need to grow up! Men dont go through labour we leave that to the women. Once females start pointing the finger at men trying to say that theyre better than men (as immature as it is), it just turns everyone anti! Men gave up that kind of finger pointing attitude 40 years ago, the women should too!

I thnk the main point of this all - is that its stimulated.....there's no baby at the end of the exercise. Of course that is the main reason that a majority "suck up" the pain of labour because there is a worth while outcome. No one will no the pain of labour unless you experience it personally - something that men will never experience truly. Neither will I know the true pain of digging holes, laying concrete, building of houses, general construction etc that requires some serious muscle. I think Angie of QLD put it right - its not a gender issue - its more of a personal issue if you have a high pain threshold. I'm a Mum of three. 1st child - pethidine, 2nd - gas, 3rd - nothing. I was pretty much happy up until the pushing stage of each labour and thinking that your pain threshold is just a state of mind.

Reading the comments by a lot of men makes me so mad!! I gave birth a year ago and I have to say it felt like I was being ripped in half!! From the very start for eight hours straight I had contractions 2 minutes apart for about a minute or 2 each time. My partner had to leave the room at one stage as he could not handle seeing me in so much pain! So I think for once men should just let us have this one! Get over your egos! You can not comment on something unless you have been there and done it before!

I believe, that no matter weather you are male, or female, we are all different and therefore experience pain differently. For example, what one female can endure, another female cannot and the same goes for males. This study was done on one male and one female, hardly a true study in my book. But hey everybody! Believe what you want????

Dear Andrew. I just got this video from 1 of my colleagues and must say that I am glad that you have tried this experiment. Now you know how painfull childbirth is. I think that all men should try this. It should be included in lamaze classes all over the world so all the coming-dads would understand that when we, women go to painland and stay there, it is no for fun. You were quite lucky that you have only 60 seconds contractions with 60 seconds apart. I had none. It means that I did not have any time to recover from one contraction to the other. They just kept coming without a break and no gas helped, only the epidural. Thank's God and the doctors who inveted the epidural. As for me, I am done giving birth. One time was enough. Good luck with your future experiments. Yara

I don't believe the painful experiment carried out by Dr Andrew Rochford proves that women has a higher pain threshold than men. It only makes it probable that the pain of a child-birth is so huge that every person would remove the pain giving electrodes, if possible. But there is no electrodes to remove for at woman in child-birth and therefore no other alternative than to go through with it. If I have had the possibility to shut down the pain when I gave birth to my 2 children be sure that I would have done that immediately!!!

Hat off for you Dr. Andrews for trying to experience what a contraction actually feels like. But if you were actually having a baby, I'm sure you would endure. And no two births are the same. My contractions felt more like cramps in the thighs, and from the first tiny contraction at home, till my babyboy was born it was only 4,5 hours... I'm sure you would have been able to do that! I'm now pregnant again, and have no fear for the second birth. But I'll surely take any painrelief if I feel the need to. No sense in trying to be a hero - and thanks to our husbands for standing by our side while we do it. Can't be funny to watch your partner in pain for hours, without being able to do anything.

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