“He who has suffered knows!”. This saying is a common starting point for men and women to discuss the magnitude of their own suffering. But it is difficult to reach a scientific conclusion in this debate. But which situation actually causes more pain? Giving birth or a blow to the testicle?
The Pain Unit and the Resilience of the Human Body
According to scientists, the human body can withstand about 45 del (units of pain) of pain. But a woman feels an average of 57 del of pain during labor, which is the equivalent of breaking about 20 bones. On the other hand, a kick to the testicle can cause an estimated pain of more than 9000 del. But these numbers may not accurately reflect the complex nature of suffering.
Nociceptors and the Perception of Pain
Our bodies have nerve cells called nociceptors that sense pain. These cells are activated when a certain pain threshold is exceeded. Nociceptors send rapid responses to the brain and spinal cord, producing sharp and sudden pain. In men, the testicles need less protection than other organs because they are located outside the body and are extremely sensitive to pain. The density of nociceptors in the testicles causes pain to radiate to the abdomen when struck.
Labor Pains and Duration
Mechanical stretching of the uterus during labor also triggers nociceptors. This starts the difficult process of labor combined with nausea, fatigue and pain. Labor contractions intensify as the tension in muscles and tissues increases and usually last an average of 8 hours.
But pain is not only a physical response; it also has a perceptual and subjective dimension. Each individual perceives pain in different ways. Pain sensations may vary depending on the person’s mood, sleep patterns and past experiences. As a result, giving birth and the blow to the testicle can cause different levels of pain for each person. In the end, there is no clear winner in this comparison; both situations present varying degrees of severe suffering.
Source: The Infographics Show