The Impact of Yoga on Endometriosis-Related Pain

The Impact of Yoga on Endometriosis-Related Pain

The central hypothesis of the investigators is that the practice of yoga will result in an improvement of endometriosis related pain symptoms for women with endometriosis.

Yoga has been demonstrated to improve menstrual pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea through use of physical exercises, mental meditation, and breathing techniques. Still, there has been limited studies assessing potential benefits of yoga on pain symptoms of endometriosis. It is important to further assess yoga as a complementary therapy for women with endometriosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Reproductive aged women 18-45
2. Self-reported prior surgery with pathology confirming a diagnosis of endometriosis
3. No current use of yoga
4. Baseline moderate pain, score greater than or equal to 5 on VAS scoring
5. Access to internet with wifi capability for zoom platform and completion of weekly surveys
6. Access to items required for yoga session participation (2 blankets or towels, firm pillow, stable chair, wall space, comfortable clothing, water)
7. Ability to commit to duration of 12-week yoga course

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant patients
2. Established yoga participation or moderate exercise regimen
3. Physical trauma or disability
4. Planned surgery or hormonal medication change during study
5. Non-English speaking patients