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Can Yoga Relieve Symptoms of PCOS? Medically reviewed by Amanda Kallen, MD — Written by Sara Lindberg on November 12, 2020 Yoga and PCOS Poses that help Yoga and anxiety Other beneficial exercises Takeaway Micky Wiswedel/Stocksy United Yoga as a way to manage PCOS symptoms? Yes, please!

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6 to 12 percentTrusted Source of women during their childbearing years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This common female endocrine disorder causes your ovaries to produce an excess of male hormones, resulting in irregular periods, weight gain, and problems with fertility and ovulation.

But recent research points to a regular practice of yoga as an effective way to manage PCOS symptoms.

How yoga benefits symptoms of PCOS Although yoga cannot cure PCOS, it may help with some of the symptoms.

Yoga may decrease testosterone levels According to a recent study, practicing yoga may help decrease testosterone levels and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression in women with PCOS. More specifically, participants who did a one-hour yoga class three times a week for three months reduced testosterone levels by 29 percent.

In the study, researchers randomly assigned 31 women with PCOS between 23 and 42 years of age to either a mindful yoga group or control group. Classes happened three times a week for one hour each, for a total of three months. Participants’ endocrine, cardiometabolic, and psychological measureme