Does practicing yoga reduce premenstrual syndrome and period pain?

Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea are most common gynecological disorders associated with reduced quality of life among women of reproductive age. This study aims to compare the premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea before and after practice of yoga among women of reproductive age living in Kathmandu, Nepal. Surya Namaskar, Surya Kriya and Shambhavi Mahamudra were common yoga types practiced by participants. Method: A retrospective pre-post study with concurrent mixed method design was used. Study respondents were 41 women of reproductive age. Numeric pain rating scale and Premenstrual syndrome scale were used for quantitative data collection. Interview guide was used for the qualitative data collection. Google form was used for quantitative data whereas telephone was used for an in-depth interview. R-4.2.1 software was used for the quantitative data analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s 6-steps thematic analysis in RQDA 0.3.8.1 package of R software. Qualitative findings were triangulated with quantitative findings to determine convergent, divergent and expansive findings. Result: All outcome variables pain intensity score (Baseline: 6.46±2.31, Endline: 3.71±2.24, p<0.0001), pain duration in hour (Baseline: 6, Endline 2.5, p<0.0001) and premenstrual syndrome score (Baseline: 104.73±33.28, Endline: 74.24±22.08, p<0.0001) were significantly different after practice of yoga as compared to before yoga practice. Qualitative findings supported the quantitative result and presented expansive finding as yoga may be beneficial for management of irregular menstrual cycles and polycystic ovarian syndrome as well. Conclusion: The study suggests yoga may help in alleviating premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea.

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