The Effect of Structured Aerobics Exercise Programme for the Improvement of Mental and Physical Health Parameters in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Polycystic ovary syndrome is also referred to as "Hyperandrogenic anovulation or Stein Levinthal Syndrome". It has affected approximately 10 % of women of childbearing age. The prevalence of PCOS is higher among Pakistani women i.e. 52% as compared to the UK. The Rotterdam criteria are internationally used for the diagnosis of PCOS, which requires two out of the three features: signs of hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and ultrasound features of PCOS.

Although physical symptoms are increasingly recognized in women with PCOS, little attention has been paid to the mental health and well-being of these patients. PCOS creates an important psychological burden throughout the lifetime of these women. 57% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome have at least one mental disorder. Also, mental health is an essential part of public health and it is one of the most important indicators of the quality of health care in society.

Women with PCOS are at risk of a wide range of significant psychological difficulties including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sexual disorders, low self-esteem, poor body image, and overall a lowered quality of life. In a healthy population, lifestyle modifications, particularly physical activity, and exercise play a pivotal role in the optimization of mental health but there is little evidence available to demonstrate the effects of exercise on the optimization of psychological well-being and physical health of women with PCOS. So, this study has been designed to study the effect of a structured aerobics exercise program on the mental and physical health of women with PCOS.