Effects of Yoga on Menstrual Symptoms, Pain, Sleep Quality, and Aerobic Endurance in Young Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 32
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Sleep Quality
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial was to assess whether a yoga-based exercise program could improve aerobic endurance, sleep quality, and reduce menstrual symptoms and pain in young women aged 18-25 with primary dysmenorrhea.
The main questions it aimed to answer were:
Did yoga reduce menstrual pain and symptom severity?
Did yoga improve sleep quality and aerobic endurance?
Researchers compared a yoga intervention group to a control group to determine whether the yoga program led to improvements in these outcomes.
Participants:
Were randomly assigned to either a yoga group or a control group
Completed assessments of menstrual pain (VAS), menstrual symptoms (Menstrual Symptom Scale), sleep quality (Sleep Diary), and aerobic endurance (Incremental Shuttle Walk Test and Endurance Shuttle Walk Test)
In the intervention group, attended 50-minute yoga sessions twice a week for three menstrual cycles
Participants in the control group were offered the same yoga program after the study period.
Detailed Description
Primary dysmenorrhea, defined as painful menstruation without an identifiable pelvic pathology, is one of the most prevalent gynecological conditions among young women, affecting up to 90% of this population. It is typically characterized by cramping lower abdominal pain, often accompanied by back or thigh discomfort, and may be associated with systemic symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and gastrointestinal disturbances. These symptoms can impair daily functioning, reduce sleep quality, and limit physical activity and endurance. While pharmacologic treatments remain first-line therapy, non-pharmacologic, low-risk, and accessible interventions such as yoga have gained attention for their potential holistic benefits.
This randomized controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week structured yoga program on aerobic endurance, sleep quality, menstrual pain, and menstrual symptom severity in young women with primary dysmenorrhea.
A total of 32 female participants, aged 18-25 years, who had reported primary dysmenorrhea with menstrual pain intensity greater than 40 mm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for at least the past 6 months, were recruited and randomly assigned to either a yoga intervention group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 16). Participants were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods via social media and community announcements. Exclusion criteria included regular physical exercise, irregular menstrual cycles, pregnancy, prior childbirth, pelvic surgery, or use of hormonal or psychiatric medications.
The yoga program was delivered twice weekly in 50-minute sessions for 8 weeks (across three menstrual cycles). It included:
Asanas (postures) targeting flexibility and pelvic mobility
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 25 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •participants aged 18 to 25 years
- •Regular menstrual cycles (28 ± 7 days)
- •History of primary dysmenorrhea for at least the past 6 months
- •Menstrual pain intensity ≥40 mm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during menstruation
- •No history of childbirth
- •Voluntarily agreed to participate and provided informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •History of pelvic surgery or pelvic pathology
- •Use of hormonal treatments, contraceptives, or antidepressant medications
- •Irregular menstrual cycles
- •Pregnancy or history of childbirth
- •Diagnosis of chronic pain due to other causes (e.g., fibromyalgia, endometriosis)
- •Regular engagement in physical exercise or yoga practice in the past 3 months
- •Any condition that may contraindicate moderate-intensity physical activity
Arms & Interventions
Yoga Intervention
Participants in this group received a structured yoga program consisting of 50-minute sessions, twice per week, over three menstrual cycles.
Intervention: Yoga Exercise Program (Other)
Control Group
Participants in this group received no intervention during the study period but were offered the yoga program after completion of the study.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Sleep Quality
Time Frame: Since the menstrual cycle length varies between 28-35 days Baseline, at the end of Menstrual Cycle 2 (approximately Day 56-70), and at the end of Menstrual Cycle 3 (approximately Day 84-105)
Change in sleep quality assessed using the Sleep Diary across three menstrual cycles. Includes measures such as sleep onset latency, total sleep time, number of awakenings, and subjective sleep quality. Measure Type: Continuous (sleep parameters in minutes and Likert-scale scores) Sleep Onset Latency (in minutes) Total Sleep Time (in minutes) Number of Awakenings (count) Subjective Sleep Quality (Scale 1-5)
Aerobic Endurance
Time Frame: Since the menstrual cycle length varies between 28-35 days Baseline and at the end of Menstrual Cycle 3 (approximately Day 84-105)]
Change in aerobic endurance assessed by Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (ESWT). Time to exhaustion during the ESWT, used to assess submaximal aerobic endurance Measure Type: Continuous (minutes)
Aerobic Endurance
Time Frame: Since the menstrual cycle length varies between 28-35 days Baseline and at the end of Menstrual Cycle 3 (approximately Day 84-105)
Change in aerobic endurance assessed via Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) Measure Type: Continuous (distance in meters)
Secondary Outcomes
- Menstrual Pain Intensity(Since the menstrual cycle length varies between 28-35 days Baseline, at the end of Menstrual Cycle 2 (approximately Day 56-70), and at the end of Menstrual Cycle 3 (approximately Day 84-105))
- Menstrual Symptom Severity(Since the menstrual cycle length varies between 28-35 days Baseline and at the end of Menstrual Cycle 3 (approximately Day 84-105))
Investigators
Seda Uluşahin
PT PhD
Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi