Role of structured exercise programs in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

Abstract Background Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age. Several pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are used to manage symptoms in women with PCOS. Objective The objective of this review was to identify and discuss evidence pertaining specifically to the benefits of structured exercise programs on clinical features and biomarkers relevant to PCOS. Methods Potential studies published between 2000 and 2019 were identified by systematically searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL by using key concepts of PCOS. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate studies’ strength of evidence. Result Thirteen manuscripts of moderate to strong quality were identified. All studies involved structured exercise regimes lasting from 8 weeks to 24 weeks duration with variable frequency (2–5 sessions per week) and duration (25–60 min). Most of the studies reported improvements in menstrual cyclicity, Ferriman-Gallwey scores, testosterone, DHEA-S, sex hormone binding globulin levels and free androgen index scores. Conclusion Structured well-defined aerobic and resistance training protocols, independently or in combination with diet control, that lasted for at least 12 weeks led to improvements in a number of clinical parameters and biomarkers related to PCOS.