Exercise is recommended as a lifestyle strategy to improve reproductive and metabolic health in women with PCOS. Improved insulin sensitivity is one of the primary ways that exercise benefits PCOS, however, reduced weight and adiposity and an improvement in cardiovascular disease risk factors are also among the benefits for PCOS that have been attributed to exercise.[1]
Beneficial effects of aerobic exercise in PCOS have been found for insulin sensitivity, cholesterol, aerobic capacity, and body composition [2] as well as for psychological well-being [3]. While the evidence is limited, there is some suggestion that exercise interventions improve menstrual regularity and pregnancy and ovulation rates in women with PCOS.[4] As for how much exercise is enough, it is recommended that women with PCOS obtain at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
References
- ^Woodward A, Klonizakis M, Broom DExercise and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.Adv Exp Med Biol.(2020)
- ^Kite C, Lahart IM, Afzal I, Broom DR, Randeva H, Kyrou I, Brown JEExercise, or exercise and diet for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Syst Rev.(2019-02-12)
- ^Muma NA, Rowell PPEffects of chronic choline and lecithin on mouse hippocampal dendritic spine density.Exp Aging Res.(1988)
- ^Benham JL, Yamamoto JM, Friedenreich CM, Rabi DM, Sigal RJRole of exercise training in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clin Obes.(2018-Aug)