Chronic pain becomes more common after 40, yet women are far more likely to be dismissed when they seek help. A Stanford study found that women wait an average of 33% longer than men to receive pain medication in ERs. Many midlife women learn to downplay back pain, pelvic aches, or migraines because years of being told “it’s stress” or “you’re overreacting” has trained them to stay silent. But chronic pain in midlife is often rooted in hormonal shifts, reduced collagen, joint degeneration, and autoimmune activity — conditions that deserve real medical evaluation. Women aren’t “too sensitive.” Their biology is changing, and their pain pathways are different from men’s. Helpful steps: track symptoms, push for referrals, request imaging if pain persists, and find specialists experienced with midlife women. Pain is a message, not a personality flaw. #Health #WomensHealth #ChronicPain