Hypnotic suppression of pain circumvents problems of drug tolerance and addiction. If subjects can repeatedly experience voluntary termination of hallucinated pain they should be able to eradicate pain when it starts. 5 of 8 women suffering from chronic menstrual pain were susceptible to this hypnotic suggestion and have been relieved of most of their pain for 2 years. Similar suggestion was not as effective with 5 male veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries. Pain was decreased under hypnosis, but post-hypnotic suggestion worked only for a short time. The difference may be explained by assuming that menstrual pain is expected as a result of conditioning to tissue changes during the period, whereas spinal injuries serve as ever-present sources of primary pain sensations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)