Common Pain Disorders in Women: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Management

There is well-established epidemiologic evidence demonstrating variance in the pain disorders affecting women compared with men, although limited conclusive evidence exists regarding the pathophysiologic mechanisms to account for this difference. Six of the most common pain disorders affecting women include migraine headache, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, temporomandibular disorders, and osteoarthritis. The sex-specific prevalence, risk factors, triggers, presentations, and treatments of these disorders are critical for physicians to appreciate and understand to provide the highest standard of care when treating these common pain conditions.