title: Endometriosis and physical exercises: a systematic review.
abstract: Regular physical exercise seems to have protective effects against diseases that involve inflammatory processes since it induces an increase in the systemic levels of cytokines with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and also acts by reducing estrogen levels. Evidence has suggested that the symptoms associated with endometriosis result from a local inflammatory peritoneal reaction caused by ectopic endometrial implants. Thus, the objective of the present review was to assess the relationship between physical exercise and the prevalence and/or improvement of the symptoms associated with endometriosis. To this end, data available in PubMed (1985-2012) were surveyed using the terms "endometriosis and physical exercises", "endometriosis and life style and physical exercises" in the English language literature. Only 6 of the 935 articles detected were included in the study. These studies tried establish a possible relationship between the practice of physical exercise and the prevalence of endometriosis. The data available are inconclusive regarding the benefits of physical exercise as a risk factor for the disease and no data exist about the potential impact of exercise on the course of the endometriosis. In addition, randomized studies are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil. caca_bonocher@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Camila M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bonocher
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rosa E Silva
authors.forename: Rui A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ferriani
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meola
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior