Science Writers Briefing on Gender and Pain, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health

Tuesday, April 7th, 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.

Bethesda Marriott Hotel, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814

The following questions will be addressed during the two-day conference on Gender and Pain (April 7-8) and the science writers briefing:

* Do women and men respond to pain differently?

* Pain Threshold: Are there differences between men and women?

* Pain Tolerance: Are there differences between men and women?

* What chronic pain problems are more common in women than men?

* What chronic pain problems are more common in men than women?

* Is there a genetic basis for differences in the response to pain between men and women?

* How does the pattern of pain problems in women vary over their lifetime? (from birth to puberty, menopause & beyond)

* Are there sex differences in infants and young children's response to pain?

* With women living longer than men, is pain in the aged population primarily a female issue?

* How do sex differences impact the biology of pain?

* Does the nervous system respond differently to pain in men and women?

* Can hormones influence the nervous system's response to pain?

* Do women receive different medical treatment for pain than men?

* Is there a gender "bias" in pain treatment?

* What are the unique features of chronic gynecological pain?

* What is the nature of the chronic pain following breast amputation?

* Is angina in women subject to gender bias?

* Do women and men respond differently to analgesic drugs?

* Is a woman's pain response shaped by socio-cultural factors?

* What is the psycho-social shaping of the pain experience in women and men?

* Clinical Pain versus Experimental Pain: A role for sex differences?

* What are the special research opportunities available to treat pain in women and men?

Please RSVP by April 3rd to Jody Dove, 301/594-7558. Abstracts available upon request.