Effect of Yoga Training on Nausea and Pain

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is one of the most common gynecological conditions affecting an estimated 67% to 90% of young women and is a painful uterine contraction caused by endometrial laceration . PD is also known as painful periods or menstrual cramps that cause pain during the menstrual cycle. Menstrual pain is the most common symptom associated with primary dysmenorrhea. The pathogenesis of menstrual pain is thought to be due to an abnormal increase in the production of vasoactive prostaglandins in the endometrium, which can induce myometrial hyperactivity, uterine tissue ischemia, and pain. The pain caused by dysmenorrhea begins a few days before menstruation and lasts for 48-72 hours. The pain is usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen and may radiate to the lower back and upper thighs. Other symptoms that the individual may experience include diarrhea, headache, stress, and nausea.

Yoga is one of the self-development and exercise methods that fully trains the soul, mind and body and allows the individual to know themselves. Yoga, which is a mental journey that the individual makes to their inner world, is a technique that allows the person to be alone with themselves as a result of the combination of physical posture, breathing techniques and mental meditation. The yoga-based lifestyle includes positive behavioral changes (yamas and niyamas), physical posture practices (asanas), breathing regulation (pranayama), control of the senses (pratyahara) and meditation techniques (dharana, dhyana and samadhi). It has been determined in the literature that yoga reduces menstrual cramps and distress, and it has been reported that it can be used in menstrual problems due to its safety, lack of side effects, low cost, easy accessibility and noninvasiveness. Previous studies report that yoga suppresses menstrual pain by reducing the level of prostaglandin production and myometrial ischemia through "down-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system" and has positive effects on psychological well-being. In addition, studies have determined that yoga is also effective in nausea and vomiting symptoms. In a systematic review conducted on individuals with cancer, it was determined that yoga is effective in symptom management (nausea and vomiting, fatigue, anxiety, depression, etc.). The aim of this study is to determine the effect of yoga training in reducing nausea and pain symptoms in young women with primary dysmenorrhea. The results of the study will contribute to the literature on dysmenorrhea, one of the important gynecological problems in women. In addition, although there are many results in the literature on the effectiveness of yoga in the management of nausea and vomiting symptoms with cancer patients, no study on dysmenorrhea has been found. In this respect, it will also provide important evidence to the literature.