Study reveals female hormones can suppress pain as well as opioids
READ MORE: Man with high levels of pregnancy hormone is hit by rare cancer The battle of the sexes is centuries old, but a new study suggests women might have the upper hand when it comes to pain management. Scientists from UC San Francisco have discovered the female hormones estrogen and progesterone can suppress pain by making cells that produce pain-relieving opioids. This process helps block pain signals between the body and brain. The researchers believe the discovery could help with developing new treatments for chronic pain resulting from diseases like arthritis and cancer . They estimate it could 'change the lives of the nearly 20 percent of Americans who experience chronic pain that is not adequately treated.' The US Pain Foundation reports more than 51 million American adults live with chronic pain and pain in America costs as much as $635 billion a year in direct health care costs, lost productivity, and disability...