Pain is commonly overlooked or misunderstood, and can lead to people with chronic pain navigating a world where their suffering is frequently downplayed. Chronic pain doesn’t discriminate, and can affect anyone—but its impact on women is particularly profound. Studies reveal that women experience chronic pain more frequently, intensely, and enduringly than men. Yet, despite these stark statistics, their pain often receives inadequate attention or treatment due to systemic biases within healthcare.
Conditions such as migraines, endometriosis, and autoimmune disorders disproportionately affect women, yet their symptoms are often dismissed or misdiagnosed. National Pain Week 2024, from July 22-28, is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on women’s pain, and the transformative initiatives aimed at fostering understanding and change.
The Victorian Government has recently launched a groundbreaking initiative, the Inquiry into Women’s Pain, in response to these disparities. As part of the Women’s Health and Wellbeing Program, this inquiry is a pivotal step towards understanding and addressing the unique challenges women face in pain management. It seeks to amplify women’s voices, identify barriers to care, evaluate current services, recommend innovative approaches, and promote gender equity in pain management.
Against this backdrop, National Pain Week 2024 takes on added significance, and the connection between the Inquiry into Women’s Pain and the broader pain awareness movement becomes clear. This annual event is dedicated to raising awareness about chronic pain, and becomes a platform for amplifying the voices of women, and a space to advocate for their needs. It’s a time to celebrate and respect the resilience of those living with chronic pain, and to renew our commitment to supporting them.
Throughout the inquiry, insights gathered through written submissions, surveys, and focus groups will inform policy recommendations, and shape the conversations during National Pain Week. By integrating the findings of the inquiry into the discussions and activities of the week, we bridge the gap between research and advocacy, and between understanding and action.
Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities ahead, there’s a shared sense of optimism. Through initiatives like the Inquiry into Women’s Pain and events like National Pain Week 2024, we’re not just raising awareness—we’re catalysing change. By centering women’s experiences, advocating for their needs, and fostering connections within the community, we move closer to a future where chronic pain is met with empathy, understanding, and effective care.
Your Voice Matters
As National Pain Week approaches and the Inquiry into Women’s Pain continues its work, there are countless ways to get involved. Share your story, talk to the people in your life, participate in wider discussions, and lend your support to initiatives that champion equitable pain management. Together, we can build a future where women no longer suffer in silence, where their pain is acknowledged, and where their needs are met with compassion and respect.
For more information on how to participate in the Inquiry into Women’s Pain or how to get involved in National Pain Week activities, visit Department of Health Victoria and Chronic Pain Australia.
