Yoga for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract

Yogic life style, a form of holistic mind-body medicine, is known to reduce stress and sympathetic tone6. Recent randomized controlled trial found holistic yoga program for 12 weeks to be significantly better than physical exercise in reducing Anti-Mullerian Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone and Testosterone, Modified Ferriman and Gallway (mFG) score for hirsutism and improving menstrual frequencies in PCOS patients. Yoga not only addresses the problems of PCOS but is likely to prevent the long term complications such as Cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes etc. Further, yoga, being holistic in its approach, is potentially more cost-effective and enduring. Hence yoga may be recommended as both a primary intervention and/or as adjunct to standard medical care for management of PCOS.

Full text

Clinical Roundup: Selected Treatment Options for
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
To cite this article:
Alternative and Complementary Therapies. April 2013, 19(2): 101-106.
doi:10.1089/act.2013.19205.
Published in Volume: 19 Issue 2: April 16, 2013
Yoga for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder with prevalence
estimates, ranging from 2.2 percent to as high as 26 percent1. It is believed that both genetic
predisposition and life style factors contribute to the etiology of PCOS2. Altered life style that includes
high calorie diet and lack of exercise resulting in obesity and insulin resistance which has been well
recognized as a exacerbating factor for PCOS3. Association between stress and PCOS has also been
documented 4. Adult women with PCOS have a 10-fold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and
a 2-fold increased risk of the metabolic syndrome. There are studies suggesting that chronic stimulation
of sympathetic activity, a result of stressful life style, can induce dysregulation of the Hypothalamus-
Pituitary-Ovarian axis (HPO axis) in women with PCOS5.
Yogic life style, a form of holistic mind-body medicine, is known to reduce stress and sympathetic tone6.
Recent randomized controlled trial7 found holistic yoga program for 12 weeks to be significantly better
than physical exercise in reducing Anti-Mullerian Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone and Testosterone,
Modified Ferriman and Gallway (mFG) score for hirsutism and improving menstrual frequencies in
PCOS patients. Yoga not only addresses the problems of PCOS but is likely to prevent the long term
complications such as Cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes8 etc. Further, yoga, being holistic in its
approach, is potentially more cost-effective and enduring. Hence yoga may be recommended as both a
primary intervention and/or as adjunct to standard medical care for management of PCOS.
Following yogic practices are found to be useful in PCOS:
1. Physical postures (Asanas - 1 min each): a) Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation) for 10 min; b)
prone asanas - Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana), Locust Pose (Salabhasana), Bow Pose
(Dhanurasana) ; c) standing asanas such as Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Twisted Angle Pose
(Parsva -konasana), Spread Leg Intense Stretch (Prasarita padottanasana); d) supine asanas -
Inverted Pose (Viparita Karni), Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana), Plough Pose (Halasana); e)
sitting asanas - sitting forward Stretch (Paschimottanasana), fixed angle Pose (Baddha-
konasana), Garland Pose (Malasana)
2. Breathing Techniques (Pranayama – 2 min each): Sectional Breathing (Vibhagiya- Pranayama),
Forceful Exhalation (Kapala Bhati), Right Nostril Breathing (Suryanuloma Viloma) 2min,
Alternate nostril breathing (Nadi suddhi)
3. Guided relaxation (Savasana) for 10 min

4. OM Meditation (OM Dhyana) for 10 min
5. Group Lecture: Lectures, in the form of cognitive restructuring based on the spiritual philosophy
underlying yogic concepts, spiritual coping strategies etc.
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on endocrine parameters in adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome. J Pediatr Adolesc
Gynecol. 2011 Aug;24(4):223-7.
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2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.2007; 4:469–
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Hemant Bhargav, MBBS, MD (Y&R)*
*Corresponding author
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana
(S-VYASA)University
K.G. Nagar, Bengaluru, India