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Sure, we've all heard someone say that their partner is a "pain in the butt" at some time or another, but did we ever take it to mean that they could cause actual physical pain with their presence?
Sure, people say that men are a "pain in the butt" all the time, but did we ever take it to mean that they could cause us actual physical pain?
In a new study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, a team of researchers from London studied how 39 women dealt with pain depending on their partner’s presence. In their experiment, they pricked the women's fingers with laser pulses while their partners were in the room and when they were alone. After each "prick," the women were asked to rate the level of pain they felt. Researchers were also monitoring their brains' electrical activity throughout the process.
In their research, it was apparent that women felt more pain in the presence of their partners. Better yet? They believe that this pain extends into the delivery room.
Don't kick your man to the curb, yet, ladies. Interestingly, this effect was greatest on those women who avoided closeness in all of their relationships. The more the woman avoided their partners, the more pain they felt in his presence.
“If you are someone who is insecure or distrusting, the more pain you will experience when your partner is there, regardless of how helpful or supportive he or she is,” says ob-gyn Marielena Guerra, M.D., of Elite OB/GYN in Florida, who was not involved in the study.
Women who felt close and secure with their partners, on the other hand, experiences either no pain difference or just a slight increase in pain.
Some things to keep in mind about this study: only 39 non-pregnant women were used in this study, but there are other studies that support the conclusion. In one 2014 study published in The Journal of Pain, "insecurely attached women suffered more pain and required more pain meds while enduring the throes of labor compared to those who were securely attached," Women's Health Magazine explains.
What do you think about this latest study? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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