The role of gender in fibromyalgia syndrome
Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), characterized by widespread pain and tenderness on palpation (tender points), is much more common in women than in men in a proportion of 9:1. Two recent studies have shown important gender differences in various clinical characteristics of FMS. In a community and a clinic sample, women experienced significantly more common fatigue, morning fatigue, hurt all over, total number of symptoms, and irritable bowel syndrome. Women had significantly more tender points. Pain severity, global severity and physical functioning were not significantly different between the sexes, nor were psychologic factors, eg, anxiety, stress, and depression. Gender differences have also been observed in other related syndromes, eg, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches. The mechanisms of gender differences in these illnesses are not fully understood, but are likely to involve an interaction between biology, psychology, and sociocultural factors.
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- Authors
- Yunus, M. B.
- Affiliations
- Peoria campus of the University of Illinois System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Yunus, Muhammad B.
- Venue
- Current Rheumatology Reports
- Published
- 2001-03
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 128-134
- ISSN
- 1523-3774 (ISSN-L)
- 1534-6307
- OpenAlex
- W2092964081
- Cited by
- 166
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 0.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Current Rheumatology Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment
- Keywords
- fibromyalgia, gender differences, sex differences, women, tender points, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, headache, pain intensity, psychosocial factors
- MeSH terms
- Female, Fibromyalgia, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Factors
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