Chronic pain is a debilitating condition that impacts tens of millions each year, resulting in lost wages for workers and exacting considerable costs in health care and rehabilitation. A thorough understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying pain and analgesia is critical to facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies and personalized medicine. Clinical and epidemiological studies report that women experience greater levels of pain than men and have higher rates of pain-related disorders. Studies in both humans and rodents report sex differences in the anatomical and physiologic properties of the descending antinociceptive circuit, mu opioid receptor (MOR) expression and binding, morphine metabolism, and immune system activation, all of which likely contribute to the observed sex differences in pain and opioid analgesia. Although more research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, these sex differences present potential therapeutic targets to optimize pain management strategies for both sexes.

慢性疼痛是一种使人衰弱的疾病，每年影响数以千万计，导致工人的工资损失，并在医疗保健和康复方面付出了可观的费用。全面了解疼痛和镇痛的神经机制对于促进治疗策略和个性化药物的开发至关重要。临床和流行病学研究报告说，女性比男性经历更大的痛苦，并且与痛苦有关的疾病发生率更高。在人类和啮齿类动物上的研究均报告了在抗伤害性降级电路，μ阿片受体（MOR）表达和结合，吗啡代谢和免疫系统激活的解剖学和生理学特性方面的性别差异，所有这些都可能导致观察到的性别差异。疼痛和阿片类镇痛。