Yoga for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of yoga as a treatment option for menopausal symptoms.


METHODS
We searched the literature using 14 databases from their inception to July 2008 and included all types of clinical studies regardless of their design. The methodological quality of all studies was assessed using a modified Jadad score.


RESULTS
Seven studies met our inclusion criteria. Two randomized clinical trials compared the effects of yoga with those of walking or physical exercise. The meta-analysis of these data failed to show specific effects of yoga on menopausal complaints including psychological, somatic, and vasomotor symptoms. Two randomized clinical trials found no effects of yoga on total menopausal symptoms compared with wait-list control or no treatment. The remaining studies were either non-randomized (n = 1) or uncontrolled clinical trials (n = 3). They reported favorable effects of yoga on menopausal symptoms. These data collectively show that the results of rigorous studies of the effects of yoga for menopausal symptoms are unconvincing.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence is insufficient to suggest that yoga is an effective intervention for menopause. Further research is required to investigate whether there are specific benefits of yoga for treating menopausal symptoms.
Lee
Myeong Soo
MS
Department of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea. drmslee@gmail.com
Kim
Jong-In
JI
Ha
Jeong Yong
JY
Boddy
Kate
K
Ernst
Edzard
E
D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D015013:Yoga