Investigation of the Influence of Sex and Gender on Somatosensory Phenotypes, Endogenous Pain Inhibiton and Individual Pain Perception in Cisgender, Transgender and Non-Binary People

Since transgender people are underrepresented in current research compared to cisgender people, there is a lack of information on whether and how guidelines on pain perception differ between cisgender and transgender groups. It has not been proven whether cis women and trans women are comparable in terms of their pain tolerance, threshold, and modulation. The same applies to cis and trans men as well as non-binary groups. However, differences in pain perception between biological men and women are well known. The explanations for sex/gender-specific differences are manifold and continue to be the subject of scientific debate. Hormones and genotypes, age, stereotypes, social interactions, and environmental factors are just some of the possible influencing factors.

The aim of the study is to analyze the influence of sex/gender-somatosensory phenotypes on pain perception, inhibition, and modulation. As the visibility of gender identities beyond the cis-binary system is increasing in society and in healthcare, an adequate database should also be available that takes sex and gender diversity into account. By studying cis-male and cis-female individuals, as well as trans and non-binary individuals, it will be possible to compare their somatosensory phenotypes with the currently valid guidelines and to identify expected and possible deviations. If significant differences in pain thresholds between cisgender and transgender groups are found, the development of new guidelines for these previously unrepresented genders should be considered. This will ensure that neither over- nor under-treatment occurs.  The goal of individualized treatment approaches could be pursued. In addition, the study contributes to reducing the gender data and health gap and promoting gender diversity in medicine and research.

 

Aims

• Analyse sex/gender dependent differences in somatosensory phenotypes, endogenous pain inhibition and pain threshold
• Investigate possible deviations from sex-specific normative values in trans* and nonbinary people
• Improvement of understanding of pain and more individualized treatment approaches, closing the gender data gap