
Immune signals and testosterone may explain why women's pain lasts longer
A new Science Immunology study of 245 people with traumatic injuries, plus mouse experiments, suggests women’s pain lasts longer because their immune system is less effective at shutting off pain; men have higher interleukin-10, and testosterone boosts interleukin-10 production, helping pain fade faster. The findings, which align with observed sex differences in chronic pain, could guide future treatments (including hormone-based options) while acknowledging that pain biology is not explained by a single pathway.













