Role of exercise training in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Preliminary evidence suggests exercise in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may improve reproductive and cardiometabolic parameters. Our primary aim was to determine the impact of exercise training on reproductive health in women with PCOS. Our secondary aim was to determine the effect of exercise training on cardiometabolic indices. A systematic review of published literature was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE based on a pre-published protocol (PROSPERO CRD42017065324). The search was not limited by year. Randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials and uncontrolled trials that evaluated an exercise intervention in women with PCOS and reported reproductive outcomes were included. Reproductive outcomes were analysed semi-quantitatively and a meta-analysis was conducted for reported cardiometabolic outcomes. Of 517 screened abstracts, 14 studies involving 617 women with PCOS were included: seven randomized controlled trials, one non-randomized controlled trial and six uncontrolled trials. There were insufficient published data to describe the effect of exercise interventions on ovulation quantitatively, but semi-quantitative analysis suggested that exercise interventions may improve menstrual regularity, pregnancy and ovulation rates. Our meta-analysis found that exercise improved lipid profiles and decreased waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and fasting insulin. The impact of exercise interventions on reproductive function remains unclear. However, our meta-analysis suggests that exercise interventions may improve cardiometabolic profiles in women with PCOS.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Exercise interventions can also improve cardiometabolic risk factors in women with PCOS.
“Exercise interventions can also improve cardiometabolic risk factors in women with PCOS [171].”
From Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Presentation, and Treatment With Emphasis on Adolescent Girls (2019) · cites this paper as [171]
Cites
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: the PRISMA statement
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & for the PRISMA Group (2009) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.b2535 · Cited by 83,823 · see citing works
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & The PRISMA Group (2009) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 · Cited by 64,042 · see citing works
A Coefficient of Agreement for Nominal Scales
Cohen, J. (1960) · Educational and Psychological Measurement · doi:10.1177/001316446002000104 · Cited by 42,398 · see citing works
The Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials
Higgins, J. P. T., Altman, D. G., Gotzsche, P. C., Juni, P., Moher, D., Oxman, A. D., Savovic, J., Schulz, K. F., Weeks, L., Sterne, J. A. C., et al. (2011) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.d5928 · Cited by 33,817 · see citing works
Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., & Dunaif, A. (2012) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/er.2011-1034 · Cited by 1,947 · see citing works
Legro, R. S., Arslanian, S. A., Ehrmann, D. A., Hoeger, K. M., Murad, M. H., Pasquali, R., & Welt, C. K. (2013) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2013-2350 · Cited by 1,919 · see citing works
Ehrmann, D. A. (2005) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmra041536 · Cited by 1,884 · see citing works
Criteria, Prevalence, and Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Lizneva, D., Suturina, L., Walker, W., Brakta, S., Gavrilova-Jordan, L., & Azziz, R. (2016) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.05.003 · Cited by 1,358 · see citing works
Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of polycystic ovary syndrome
Sirmans, S. M., & Pate, K. (2013) · Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.2147/clep.s37559 · Cited by 1,301 · see citing works
Kyu, H. H., Bachman, V. F., Alexander, L. T., Mumford, J. E., Afshin, A., Estep, K., Veerman, J. L., Delwiche, K., Iannarone, M. L., Moyer, M. L., et al. (2016) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.i3857 · Cited by 1,272 · see citing works
Diamanti‐Kandarakis, E., Kouli, C., Bergiele, A. T., Filandra, F. A., Tsianateli, T. C., Spina, G., Zapanti, E. D., & Bartzis, M. I. (1999) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jcem.84.11.6148 · Cited by 1,107 · see citing works
Exercise-induced reduction in obesity and insulin resistance in women: a randomized controlled trial
Ross, R., Janssen, I., Dawson, J., Kungl, A., Kuk, J. L., Wong, S. L., Nguyen‐Duy, T., Lee, S., Kilpatrick, K., & Hudson, R. (2004) · Obesity Research · doi:10.1038/oby.2004.95 · Cited by 696 · see citing works
The polycystic ovary syndrome: a position statement from the European Society of Endocrinology
Conway, G., Dewailly, D., Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., Escobar-Morreale, H. F., Franks, S., Gambineri, A., Kelestimur, F., Macut, D., Micic, D., Pasquali, R., et al. (2014) · European Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1530/eje-14-0253 · Cited by 676 · see citing works
Clark, A. M., Ledger, W., Galletly, C., Tomlinson, L., Blaney, F., Wang, X., & Norman, R. J. (1995) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a135772 · Cited by 642 · see citing works
Jakicic, J. M., Marcus, B. H., Gallagher, K. I., Napolitano, M., & Lang, W. (2003) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.290.10.1323 · Cited by 519 · see citing works
Quality of life and psychological well being in polycystic ovary syndrome
Barnard, L., Ferriday, D., Guenther, N., Strauss, B. M., Balen, A. H., & Dye, L. (2007) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/humrep/dem108 · Cited by 388 · see citing works
Ding, T., Hardiman, P. J., Petersen, I., Wang, F.-F., Qu, F., & Baio, G. (2017) · Oncotarget · doi:10.18632/oncotarget.19180 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
Thomson, R. L., Buckley, J. D., Noakes, M., Clifton, P. M., Norman, R. J., & Brinkworth, G. D. (2008) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2008-0751 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
Exercise therapy in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review
Harrison, C. L., Lombard, C. B., Moran, L. J., & Teede, H. J. (2011) · Human Reproduction Update · doi:10.1093/humupd/dmq045 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
Palomba, S., Giallauria, F., Falbo, A., Russo, T., Oppedisano, R., Tolino, A., Colao, A., Vigorito, C., Zullo, F., & Orio, F. (2008) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/humrep/dem391 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Jedel, E., Labrie, F., Odén, A., Holm, G., Nilsson, L., Janson, P. O., Lind, A., Ohlsson, C., & Stener‐Victorin, E. (2010) · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00495.2010 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
Lass, N., Kleber, M., Winkel, K., Wunsch, R., & Reinehr, T. (2011) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2011-1609 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in a sample of Indigenous women in Darwin, Australia
Boyle, J. A., Cunningham, J., OˈDea, K., Dunbar, T., & Norman, R. J. (2012) · Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/mja11.10553 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Polycystic ovary syndrome, adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome
Delitala, A. P., Capobianco, G., Delitala, G., Cherchi, P. L., & Dessole, S. (2017) · Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics · doi:10.1007/s00404-017-4429-2 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Baranova, A. V., Tran, T., Birerdinc, A., & Younossi, Z. M. (2011) · Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04579.x · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Nybacka, Å., Carlström, K., Ståhle, A., Nyrén, S., Hellström, P. M., & Hirschberg, A. L. (2011) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.09.006 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Hudecova, M., Holte, J., Olovsson, M., & Sundstrom Poromaa, I. (2009) · Human Reproduction · doi:10.1093/humrep/den482 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Tasali, E., Cauter, E. V., & Ehrmann, D. A. (2008) · Sleep Medicine Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2007.11.001 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Pasquali, R., Gambineri, A., Cavazza, C., Gasparini, D. I., Ciampaglia, W., Cognigni, G. E., & Pagotto, U. (2010) · European Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1530/eje-10-0692 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Bariatric Surgery, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and Infertility
Butterworth, J. W., Deguara, J., & Borg, C.-M. (2016) · Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1155/2016/1871594 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Vizza, L., Smith, C. A., Swaraj, S., Agho, K., & Cheema, B. S. (2016) · BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1186/s13102-016-0039-8 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Thomson, R. L., Buckley, J. D., & Brinkworth, G. D. (2011) · Obesity Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2010.00758.x · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome... and vice versa
Kandaraki, E., Christakou, C. D., & Diamanti‐Kandarakis, E. (2009) · Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia · doi:10.1590/s0004-27302009000200014 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Ding, T., Baio, G., Hardiman, P. J., Petersen, I., & Sammon, C. (2016) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012461 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Turan, V., Mutlu, E. K., Solmaz, U., Ekin, A., Tosun, O., Tosun, G., Mat, E., Gezer, C., & Malkoc, M. (2015) · Journal of Physical Therapy Science · doi:10.1589/jpts.27.2293 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Mahoney, D. E. (2013) · Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners · doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12073 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Varanasi, L. C., Subasinghe, A., Jayasinghe, Y. L., Callegari, E. T., Garland, S. M., Gorelik, A., & Wark, J. D. (2018) · Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · doi:10.1111/ajo.12730 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Zhang, J., Si, Q., & Li, J. (2017) · Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences · doi:10.12669/pjms.331.11764 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Nagelberg, J., Burks, H. R., Mucowski, S. J., et al. (2016) · Contraception and Reproductive Medicine · doi:10.1186/s40834-016-0025-2 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Aubuchon, M., Laughbaum, N., Poetker, A., Williams, D. B., & Thomas, M. A. (2008) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.03.028 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Kumar, P., Pai, P. J., Pallavi, G., Maiya, A. G., & Ramachandra, P. (2016) · International Journal of Infertility & Fetal Medicine · doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10016-1135 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Witchel, S. F., Oberfield, S. E., & Peña, A. S. (2019) · Journal of the Endocrine Society · doi:10.1210/js.2019-00078 · Cited by 653 · see citing works
Blackshaw, L. C. D., Chhour, I., Stepto, N. K., & Lim, S. S. (2019) · Medical Sciences · doi:10.3390/medsci7070076 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Transtheoretical model-based mobile health application for PCOS
Wang, L., Liu, Y., Tan, H., & Huang, S. (2022) · Reproductive Health · doi:10.1186/s12978-022-01422-w · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Exercise: Evaluation of YouTube Videos
Atigan, A., & Atigan, A. (2023) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.35093 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
- Authors
- Benham, J. L., Yamamoto, J. M., Friedenreich, C. M., Rabi, D. M., & Sigal, R. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Alberta Health Services (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Benham, J. L.
- Venue
- Clinical Obesity
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-06-12
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 275-284
- ISSN
- 1758-8103 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-8111
- OpenAlex
- W2808124122
- Cited by
- 85
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9
- FWCI
- 1.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Obesity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Alberta Health Services
- University of Calgary
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Keywords
- polycystic ovary syndrome, exercise training, reproductive outcomes, ovulation, menstrual cycle regularity, pregnancy, cardiometabolic outcomes, lipid profile, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting insulin
- MeSH terms
- Exercise Therapy, Female, Heart, Humans, Menstrual Cycle, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Pregnancy, Reproduction, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
