Review, 2025

Does yoga help with PMS and PMDD symptoms, and how might it work?

This review of past literature concludes that yoga likely helps reduce PMS and PMDD symptoms by calming the nervous and hormone systems, but it does not report new trial results, so the strength of this claim rests on the quality of the studies it reviewed, which isn't detailed.

Early or limited evidence Not a study of specific women; a narrative review of published literature on PMS, PMDD, and yoga.

What they did

The authors searched Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed for existing articles on PMS, PMDD, the body's stress hormone system (HPA axis), period pain, and yoga, then wrote a narrative summary of what this literature says.

What they found

The literature reviewed supports yoga, combining physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation, as a simple, safe, and low-cost way to manage both PMS and PMDD by addressing underlying physical and emotional causes. The review concludes regular yoga practice has a positive impact and may improve women's quality of life, potentially serving as an alternative to medication.

What it means for you

This points to yoga as a low-risk option worth considering for PMS or PMDD symptoms, but because this is a narrative review without its own trial, specific numbers on how much it helps, and without a structured systematic search, the certainty of these conclusions is limited.

About the study

Original title: The Effect of Yoga on Premenstrual Symptoms: A Narrative Review from a Physiological Perspective
Authors: Ajit Pahari, Sanjit Kumar Kar, Riya Ghosh et al.
Journal: Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences
Year: 2025
Study design: Review
What was tested: Yoga, including physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation.
Open access: Yes
Read the paper: doi.org/10.3126/jucms.v13i03.88833

Topics

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)Dysmenorrhea and period pain Low mood and depression Mindfulness and meditation Exercise and yoga Quality of life and daily functioning

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