Studies in Sweden, USA and Australia shows that at least a fourth of the population suffers from chronic muscular pain. Studies also shows that there are to a great extent women that suffer from this complaint. Women with chronic muscular pain are experiencing difficulties getting acknowledgement and legitimacy for their sickness and are having problems getting adequate care. Therefore it is interesting to see what importance participation in SHGs can have for this particular group. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for mutual support have become an appreciated alternative in different fields for treatment and caring in many countries. The problems, that SHGs deal with are often related to the individual�s social situation, and the participation in SHGs seems to be more advantageous to people with chronic rather than acute diseases. The decision to participate in a SHG is generally made at an individual level, and the reason for participation seems to be various. This paper is a review in the area of research on SHGs. SHGs for women with chronic muscular pain are especially relevant to study, since they combine dealing with chronic diseases with a possibility to apply a gender perspective. For that reason it is interesting to start with the limitations and possibilities with SHGs in relation to women with chronic muscular pain. Glaser has e.g., presented a special reason for women to join female groups, namely that they felt more convenient to work exclusively with other women. It has also been said that female groups are important for women�s individual and identity development within a patriarchal context.