The Impact of Genetics and Other Factors on Intra- and Post-partum Pain

Abstract

In an attempt to provide some explanation for the observed differences in pain perception and analgesic requirements during labor and delivery between women, the idea that genetic variability is an important factor has emerged over the past decade. Bearing in mind the challenges posed when evaluating pain during childbirth as a phenotype, recent findings in the field of genetics and obstetric anesthesia are presented in this review; in particular those related to differences in labor analgesia requirements between women, the response to opioids after cesarean delivery, as well as theories on why post-cesarean pain may be different from other types of post-surgical pain.