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Reproductive Health Menstruation, Pregnancy, Menopause, Prostate, Fertility

Video Spotlight: Pregnancy

Watch this video to learn more about the research conducted on pregnancy and yoga.

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These citations were curated by Yoga Alliance's Director of Yoga Research, Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa.

Review Papers

Review Papers (What's this?)

The effect of mind-body interventions on psychological and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women: a systematic review.
Gaitzsch H, Benard J, Hugon-Rodin J, Benzakour L, Streuli I.
Arch Womens Ment Health. 2020 Jan 2.
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Innovations in the Treatment of Perinatal Depression: the Role of Yoga and Physical Activity Interventions During Pregnancy and Postpartum.
Eustis EH, Ernst S, Sutton K, Battle CL.
Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2019 Dec 4;21(12):133.
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Exploring the impacts of mindfulness and yoga upon childbirth outcomes and maternal health: an integrative review.
Van der Riet P, Francis L, Rees A.
Scand J Caring Sci. 2019 Dec 3.
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A comprehensive review on scientific evidence-based effects (including adverse effects) of yoga for normal and high-risk pregnancy-related health problems.
Mooventhan A.
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2019 Oct;23(4):721-727.
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Yoga for menstrual pain in primary dysmenorrhea: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Kim SD.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 Aug;36:94-99.
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A systematic mixed-studies review on mindfulness-based childbirth education programs and maternal outcomes.
Shorey S, Ang L, Chee CYI.
Nurs Outlook. 2019 Nov - Dec;67(6):696-706.
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A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of yoga-based interventions for maternal depression during pregnancy.
Ng QX, Venkatanarayanan N, Loke W, Yeo WS, Lim DY, Chan HW, Sim WS.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 Feb;34:8-12.
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Yoga and Quality of Life in Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review.
McGovern CE, Cheung C.
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2018 Jul;63(4):470-482.
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Effects of Prenatal Yoga on Labor Pain.
Byrne R, Dennard E.
Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jul 1;98(1):49.
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Yoga for menopausal symptoms-A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cramer H, Peng W, Lauche R.
Maturitas. 2018 Mar;109:13-25.
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Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour.
Smith CA, Levett KM, Collins CT, Armour M, Dahlen HG, Suganuma M.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Mar 28;3:CD009514.
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Yoga Can Improve Assisted Reproduction Technology Outcomes in Couples With Infertility.
Darbandi S, Darbandi M, Khorram Khorshid HR, Sadeghi MR.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2017 Nov 7.
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Yoga for treatment of urinary incontinence in women.
Wieland LS, Shrestha N, Lassi ZS, Panda S, Chiaramonte D, Skoetz N.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;5. pii: CD012668.
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Improving vasomotor symptoms; psychological symptoms; and health-related quality of life in peri- or post-menopausal women through yoga: An umbrella systematic review and meta-analysis.
Shepherd-Banigan M, Goldstein KM, Coeytaux RR, McDuffie JR, Goode AP, Kosinski AS, Van Noord MG, Befus D, Adam S, Masilamani V, Nagi A, Williams JW Jr.
Complement Ther Med. 2017 Oct;34:156-164.
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Psychological effects of yoga nidra in women with menstrual disorders: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Kim SD.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017 Aug;28:4-8.
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Oxidative stress and male infertility.
Bisht S, Faiq M, Tolahunase M, Dada R.
Nat Rev Urol. 2017 Aug;14(8):470-485.
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The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Maternal Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes: a Systematic Review.
Shi Z, MacBeth A.
Mindfulness (N Y). 2017;8(4):823-847.
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The Effect of Yoga on Menstrual Disorders: A Systematic Review.
Oates J.
J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Jun;23(6):407-417.
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Physical Activity and Yoga-Based Approaches for Pregnancy-Related Low Back and Pelvic Pain.
Kinser PA, Pauli J, Jallo N, Shall M, Karst K, Hoekstra M, Starkweather A.
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2017 May - Jun;46(3):334-346.
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Mind-body interventions for vasomotor symptoms in healthy menopausal women and breast cancer survivors. A systematic review.
Stefanopoulou E, Grunfeld EA.
J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2017 Sep;38(3):210-225.
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Yoga in Pregnancy.
Babbar S, Shyken J.
Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Sep;59(3):600-12.
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Efficacy, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Perinatal Yoga on Women's Mental Health and Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review.
Sheffield KM, Woods-Giscombé CL.
J Holist Nurs. 2016 Mar;34(1):64-79.
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Yoga for prenatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Gong H, Ni C, Shen X, Wu T, Jiang C.
BMC Psychiatry. 2015 Feb 5;15:14.
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Effects of yoga intervention during pregnancy: a review for current status.
Jiang Q, Wu Z, Zhou L, Dunlop J, Chen P.
Am J Perinatol. 2015 May;32(6):503-14.
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Yoga: a biobehavioral approach to reduce symptom distress in women with urge urinary incontinence.
Tenfelde S, Janusek LW.
J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Oct;20(10):737-42.
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Effects of mind-body therapies on symptom clusters during the menopausal transition.
Woods NF, Mitchell ES, Schnall JG, Cray L, Ismail R, Taylor-Swanson L, Thomas A.
Climacteric. 2014 Feb;17(1):10-22.
[ abstract ]

Notable Publications

Notable Publications (What's this?)

Sperm methylome alterations following yoga-based lifestyle intervention in patients of primary male infertility: A pilot study.
Bisht S, Banu S, Srivastava S, Pathak RU, Kumar R, Dada R, Mishra RK.
Andrologia. 2020 Mar 2:e13551.
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Effects of yoga on anxiety and depression for high risk mothers on hospital bedrest.
Gallagher A, Kring D, Whitley T.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020 Feb;38:101079.
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Inpatient prenatal yoga sessions for women with high-risk pregnancies: A feasibility study.
Dangel AR, Demtchouk VO, Prigo CM, Kelly JC.
Complement Ther Med. 2020 Jan;48:102235.
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Prenatal yoga for young women a mixed methods study of acceptability and benefits.
Styles A, Loftus V, Nicolson S, Harms L.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019 Nov 28;19(1):449.
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Enhancing Problem- and Emotion-Focused Coping in Menopausal Women Through Yoga.
Crowe BM, Van Puymbroeck M.
Int J Yoga Therap. 2019 Nov;29(1):57-64.
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To compare the effects of aerobic exercise and yoga on Premenstrual syndrome.
Vaghela N, Mishra D, Sheth M, Dani VB.
J Educ Health Promot. 2019 Oct 24;8:199.
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Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Prenatal Yoga Among Women with High-Risk Pregnancies.
Deshmukh S, Seely EW, Brickley T, Zera C.
Int J Yoga Therap. 2019 Sep 4.
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Prenatal Yoga for Back Pain, Balance, and Maternal Wellness: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study.
Holden SC, Manor B, Zhou J, Zera C, Davis RB, Yeh GY.
Glob Adv Health Med. 2019 Aug 26;8:2164956119870984.
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Effects of Yoga on Quality of Sleep of Women With Premenstrual Syndrome.
Ghaffarilaleh G, Ghaffarilaleh V, Sanamno Z, Kamalifard M, Alibaf L.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2019 Sep;25(5):40-47.
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Enhancing Accessibility of Physical Activity During Pregnancy: A Pilot Study on Women's Experiences With Integrating Yoga Into Group Prenatal Care.
Kinser P, Jallo N, Thacker L, Aubry C, Masho S.
Health Serv Res Manag Epidemiol. 2019 Apr 4;6:2333392819834886.
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The effect of yoga on stress level in infertile women.
Kirca N, Pasinlioglu T.
Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2019 Apr;55(2):319-327.
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A pooled analysis of three studies of nonpharmacological interventions for menopausal hot flashes.
Avis NE, Levine BJ, Danhauer S, Coeytaux RR.
Menopause. 2019 Apr;26(4):350-356.
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Yoga positively affected depression and blood pressure in women with premenstrual syndrome in a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Ghaffarilaleh G, Ghaffarilaleh V, Sanamno Z, Kamalifard M.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 Feb;34:87-92.
[ abstract ]

'It definitely made a difference': A grounded theory study of yoga for pregnancy and women's self-efficacy for labour.
Campbell V, Nolan M.
Midwifery. 2019 Jan;68:74-83.
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Fetal and maternal responses to yoga in the third trimester.
Gavin NR, Kogutt BK, Fletcher W, Szymanski LM.
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018 Dec 20:1-5.
[ abstract ]

Meditation & yoga: Impact on oxidative DNA damage & dysregulated sperm transcripts in male partners of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss.
Dhawan V, Kumar M, Deka D, Malhotra N, Dadhwal V, Singh N, Dada R.
Indian J Med Res. 2018 Dec;148(Suppl):S134-S139.
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Effects of maternity yoga on the autonomic nervous system during pregnancy.
Hayase M, Shimada M.
J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2018 Oct;44(10):1887-1895.
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Prenatal Yoga: Effects on Alleviation of Labor Pain and Birth Outcomes.
Chethana B, Raghunandan C, Saili A, Mondal S, Saxena P.
J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Aug 30.
[ abstract ]

Effects of Prenatal Yoga on Labor Pain.
Byrne R, Dennard E.
Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jul 1;98(1):49.
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Study to Evaluate the Changes in Polycystic Ovarian Morphology after Naturopathic and Yogic Interventions.
Ratnakumari ME, Manavalan N, Sathyanath D, Ayda YR, Reka K.
Int J Yoga. 2018 May-Aug;11(2):139-147.
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Yoga as a Therapeutic Intervention in the Management of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding: A Controlled Pilot Study.
Nalgirkar SP, Vinchurkar SA, Saoji AA, Mohanty S.
J Midlife Health. 2018 Jan-Mar;9(1):8-13.
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Yoga Offers Cardiovascular Protection in Early Postmenopausal Women.
Praveena SM, Asha G, Sunita M, Anju J, Ratna B.
Int J Yoga. 2018 Jan-Apr;11(1):37-43.
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The Impact of Prenatal Yoga on Exercise Attitudes and Behavior: Teachable moments from a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Babbar S, Porter BW, Williams KB.
Int J Yoga Therap. 2017 Nov;27(1):37-48.
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Effect of yoga on the menstrual pain, physical fitness, and quality of life of young women with primary dysmenorrhea.
Yonglitthipagon P, Muansiangsai S, Wongkhumngern W, Donpunha W, Chanavirut R, Siritaratiwat W, Mato L, Eungpinichpong W, Janyacharoen T.
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2017 Oct;21(4):840-846.
[ abstract ]

Yoga Can Improve Assisted Reproduction Technology Outcomes in Couples With Infertility.
Darbandi S, Darbandi M, Khorram Khorshid HR, Sadeghi MR.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2018 Jul;24(4):50-55.
[ abstract ]

Yoga during pregnancy: The effects on labor pain and delivery outcomes (A randomized controlled trial).
Jahdi F, Sheikhan F, Haghani H, Sharifi B, Ghaseminejad A, Khodarahmian M, Rouhana N.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017 May;27:1-4.
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Effects of prenatal yoga on women's stress and immune function across pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial.
Chen PJ, Yang L, Chou CC, Li CC, Chang YC, Liaw JJ.
Complement Ther Med. 2017 Apr;31:109-117.
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A preliminary randomised control trial of the effects of Dru yoga on psychological well-being in Northern Irish first time mothers.
Timlin D, Simpson EE.
Midwifery. 2017 Mar;46:29-36.
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The Practice of Hatha Yoga for the Treatment of Pain Associated with Endometriosis.
Gonçalves AV, Barros NF, Bahamondes L.
J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Jan;23(1):45-52.
[ abstract ]

Effects of Yoga and Aerobic Exercise on Actigraphic Sleep Parameters in Menopausal Women with Hot Flashes.
Buchanan DT, Landis CA, Hohensee C, Guthrie KA, Otte JL, Paudel M, Anderson GL, Caan B, Freeman EW, Joffe H, LaCroix AZ, Newton KM, Reed SD, Ensrud KE.
J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Jan 15;13(1):11-18.
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Comparing the Effects of Yoga & Oral Calcium Administration in Alleviating Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome in Medical Undergraduates.
Bharati M.
J Caring Sci. 2016 Sep 1;5(3):179-185.
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Comparative Assessment of the Effects of Hatha Yoga and Physical Exercise on Biochemical Functions in Perimenopausal Women.
Chaturvedi A, Nayak G, Nayak AG, Rao A.
J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Aug;10(8):KC01-4.
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The Association between Prenatal Yoga and the Administration of Ritodrine Hydrochloride during Pregnancy: An Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.
Kawanishi Y, Saijo Y, Yoshioka E, Nakagi Y, Yoshida T, Miyamoto T, Sengoku K, Ito Y, Miyashita C, Araki A, Kishi R.
PLoS One. 2016 Jun 27;11(6):e0158155.
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Pilot study of integral yoga for menopausal hot flashes.
Avis NE, Legault C, Russell G, Weaver K, Danhauer SC.
Menopause. 2014 Aug;21(8):846-54.
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The effect of prenatal Hatha yoga on affect, cortisol and depressive symptoms.
Bershadsky S, Trumpfheller L, Kimble HB, Pipaloff D, Yim IS.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014 May;20(2):106-13.
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Menopausal quality of life: RCT of yoga, exercise, and omega-3 supplements.
Reed SD, Guthrie KA, Newton KM, Anderson GL, Booth-LaForce C, Caan B, Carpenter JS, Cohen LS, Dunn AL, Ensrud KE, Freeman EW, Hunt JR, Joffe H, Larson JC, Learman LA, Rothenberg R, Seguin RA, Sherman KJ, Sternfeld BS, LaCroix AZ.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014 May;20(2):106-13.
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Effect of yoga on autonomic functions and psychological status during both phases of menstrual cycle in young healthy females.
Kanojia S, Sharma VK, Gandhi A, Kapoor R, Kukreja A, Subramanian SK.
J Clin Diagn Res. 2013 Oct;7(10):2133-9.
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Effects of a holistic yoga program on endocrine parameters in adolescents with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
Nidhi R, Padmalatha V, Nagarathna R, Amritanshu R.
J Altern Complement Med. 2013 Feb;19(2):153-60.
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Yoga and massage therapy reduce prenatal depression and prematurity.
Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M, Medina L, Delgado J, Hernandez A.
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2012 Apr;16(2):204-9.
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