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News Topical, Digital Desk : Have you ever wondered why women often complain of severe abdominal pain and cramps? Is this normal or is there a deeper mystery behind it? For years, it has been a mystery to the medical world why gastrointestinal pain affects women more often, but now scientists have unveiled this mystery. A new study has revealed the biological reason that makes women's abdominal pain more severe.
The main role of estrogen hormone
This study revealed that the hormone estrogen is the primary cause of severe abdominal pain in women. According to the research, estrogen increases the secretion of gut hormones. This process stimulates the production of serotonin, which directly sensitizes the nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain.
How was the research done?
This important discovery was made jointly by researchers from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the University of California. For this study, they compared male and female mouse models. The research revealed an estrogen-dependent pathway that makes the intestine more sensitive to toxic stimuli.
Scientific reasons for pain
Researcher Stuart Brierley explains this process in very simple terms:
- Estrogen activates a specific pathway in the intestine.
- This increases the secretion of a hormone called 'PYY' in the intestine.
- This PYY stimulates the serotonin-producing cells (enterochromaffins) around it.
- As a result, serotonin production increases and this makes the nerves that send pain messages to the brain extremely sensitive.
Digestion and the effect of bacteria
The study revealed another important finding: When bacteria in our gut digest food, short-chain fatty acids are produced. Due to the presence of estrogen, women's guts respond more strongly to these acids, increasing the sensation of pain.
This study is a major achievement for the medical world, because till now the exact causes of visceral pain disorders in women were not understood.
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