Table 6.
Studies Examining Sex Differences in Thermal Experimental Pain Models
| Authors | Sample Size (M/F) | Stimulation Site | Method | Threshold* | Tolerance* | Ratings† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal pain – heat | ||||||
| al’ Absi et al5 | 15/11 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | F > M |
| Bragdon et al45 | 22/20 | A | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Edwards et al105 | 28/51 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Edwards et al107 | 83/115 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Fillingim and Maixner128 | 25/23 | FA | CH | M = F | M = F | F > M |
| Fillingim et al130 | 22/27 | FA, F | CH | M = F | M > F | M = F |
| Fillingim et al121 | 92/117 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Fillingim et al126 | 20/20 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Fillingim et al123 | 39/49 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Fillingim et al132 | 39/61 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| George et al156 | 16/17 | A | CH | M = F | M > F | — |
| Girdler et al161 | 40/37 | A | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Jensen and Petersen198 | 44/41 | FA | CH | M = F | — | F > M |
| Jones et al205 | 69/75 | FA | CH | M = F | M > F | — |
| Kim et al223 | 194/306 | FA | CH | — | — | F > M |
| Kim et al222 | 248/369 | FA | CH | — | — | F > M |
| Nielsen et al296 | 78/110 | FA | CH | — | — | M = F |
| Paulson et al312 | 10/10 | FA | CH | — | — | F > M |
| Sarlani et al360 | 20/20 | HWI | — | — | F > M | |
| Thompson et al405 | 37/88 | H | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Tousignant et al412 | 42/41 | H | CH | — | — | F > M3 |
| Wise et al444 | 61/87 | FA | CH | M > F | M > F | — |
| Thermal pain – cold | ||||||
| al’ Absi et al4 | 31/34 | H | CPT | — | — | F > M |
| al’ Absi et al3 | 72/80 | H | CPT | — | — | F > M |
| al’ Absi et al5 | 15/11 | H | CPT | — | — | F > M |
| Baad-Hansen et al20 | 20/34 | H | CPT | — | — | M = F |
| Dixon et al95 | 91/112 | H | CPT | — | M > F | M = F |
| Edwards et al107 | 83/115 | H | CPT | M > F | M > F | — |
| George et al154 | 32/34 | H | CPT | M > F | M > F | — |
| Jackson et al195 | 34/57 | H | CPT | — | M > F | F > M |
| Jones et al205 | 69/75 | H | CPT | M = F | M > F | F > M |
| Keogh et al219 | 50/50 | H | CPT | M = F | M > F | — |
| Keogh et al216 | 31/31 | H | CPT | M > F | — | — |
| Kim et al223 | 194/306 | H | CPT | — | M > F | F > M |
| Kim et al222 | 248/369 | H | CPT | — | M > F | F > M |
| Lowery et al257 | 42/39 | H | CPT | M > F | M > F | F > M |
| Mitchell et al282 | 20/24 | H | CPT | — | M > F | M = F |
| Myers et al290 | 54/50 | H | CPT | M > F | M > F | — |
| Nielsen et al296 | 78/110 | H | CPT | F > M | ||
| Pud et al320 | 15/19 | H | CPT | M = F | M = F | F > M |
| Sarlani et al360 | 20/20 | H | CPT | — | — | F > M |
| Thompson et al405 | 37/88 | H | CPT | M > F | M > F | — |
| Tousignant et al412 | 42/41 | H | CPT | F > M | ||
| Weisenberg et al436 | 40/40 | A | CPT | — | M > F | F > M |
| Zimmer et al455 | 39/37 | H | CPT | — | M > F | M = F |
Abbreviations for stimulation sites: A, arm; F, Face; FA, forearm; H, hand.
Abbreviations for methods: CH, contact heat; CPT, cold water test; HWI, hot water immersion.
*
Lower levels of threshold and tolerance in females indicate greater pain sensitivity.
†
Higher subjective ratings in females indicate greater pain sensitivity.
‡
Females required a lower temperature to produce moderate pain