There are a number of variables involved when you’re cremating. The process is the same, but each situation is unique. One of the biggest differences is whether the deceased was male or female. But does that really affect cremation?
It turns out there are a few aspects of cremation that could be impacted based on cremating a woman versus cremating a man.
The Amount of Cremains: There’s Usually a Difference
The amount of cremains that are generated all depends on the height and weight of the deceased. This makes perfect sense given that cremated remains are the pulverized pieces of bone that remain after the cremation. Therefore, the taller you are, the more cremains there should be.
The average man in the U.S. weighs 197.6 pounds and is 5’ 9” tall. The average woman in the U.S. weighs 170.8 pounds and is 5’ 4” tall.
There’s a formula for calculating a conservative estimate of the cremated remains. The weight of the cremains should be around 3.5% of the deceased’s body weight. Clearly men are going to have more cremated remains than women on average, which can impact the urn that’s selected, if the cremains will be distributed to numerous people and more.
Pacemaker Removal: Typically More Common With Men
Not all medical devices have to be removed prior to cremation, but pacemakers do have to be removed. Pacemakers have electronics in them that can explode in the retort during the cremation. If that were to happen it can damage the retort, cause a fire and injure crematorium workers.
This factor creates a difference between cremation for men and cremation for women because there are more men with pacemakers than women. A recent study found that the rate was:
1.87% for men
1.59% for women
While those numbers are low, it’s a statistically significant difference. It means that medical device removal prior to cremation is more common with men than women. And when you consider that 3 million Americans have pacemakers, that’s a difference worth noting.
But what about metal plates, pins and rods? Don’t men have those more often too? Nope, not necessarily. Women have procedures like hip replacement more than men actually. However, those types of medical devices aren’t an issue. Metal can be removed from cremated remains with a magnet after the cremation.
Outside of those factors, there’s virtually no difference between cremating a woman and cremating a man. The process of cremating is exactly the same even if the preparation is different. Plus, each cremation is treated individually, based on the unique needs of the situation.
Want to know more about direct cremation? Call or text Direct Cremate for quick answers and easy funeral arrangements.
