Is exercise good for PCOS? Seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? Exercise is great for everyone! However, PCOS research is ever-evolving, and there is always new and conflicting information. In this article, we discuss the evidence available and try to debunk the myth about “the worst exercise for PCOS”.
What is the Importance of Exercise in PCOS?
Exercise is a key component of maintaining overall good health. It can help you manage your weight, lower your blood sugar levels, assist your cells in processing insulin better (improve insulin sensitivity), lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce stress levels, improve your mood, and much more.
When you have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, you are more likely to be overweight or obese, have excess weight around your abdomen (visceral fat) and have a higher chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes, all of which are caused by increased insulin resistance in your cells.
Insulin resistance is a condition where your cells are unable to utilise the insulin produced in your body effectively, resulting in high blood glucose levels. This causes your body to produce more insulin, which in turn results in the increased production of androgen hormones and exacerbates the symptoms of PCOS.
Increased insulin levels can also make it harder for you to lose weight, as insulin promotes the storage of fat in the body and can interfere with fat burning and loss.
Exercise can help improve insulin sensitivity, reduce cholesterol levels, and promote weight loss, thus leading to better management of PCOS.
Exercise can also help lower your stress and anxiety levels, which can be helpful in achieving hormonal balance in women with PCOS.
Click here to learn more about the importance of exercise and the best exercises for PCOS.
Are There Any Exercises to Avoid in PCOS?
We’ve seen how exercise can positively affect PCOS symptoms, but is there such a thing as the worst exercises for PCOS? Can exercise and physical activity in general be bad for PCOS management? No, not in particular.
No one form of exercise is bad for PCOS. However, overdoing any exercise can make matters worse. Too much exercise, especially when you are not used to working out regularly, can throw off your hormonal balance, especially the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which could worsen your condition.
Are HIIT Workouts the Thing to Avoid in PCOS?
HIIT or high intensity interval training consists of exercises involving short and repeated bouts of intense activity followed by periods of rest. It is thought to be extremely effective when it comes to weight loss, and has gained popularity in recent times for its numerous health benefits.
With HIIT, you exercise with maximum effort for a relatively short period of time. However, this short burst of intense activity can increase the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body, along with testosterone. This is thought to be detrimental for women with PCOS, as high levels of testosterone (male hormone or androgen) and stress hormones can make PCOS symptoms worse. Thus, several experts ask women with PCOS to restrain from rigorous HIIT training.
However, it is also important to note that several studies have found HIIT training to be a particularly effective tool for lowering insulin resistance and promoting weight loss in women with PCOS. Studies have observed that women who include HIIT exercises at least thrice in their weekly fitness regime experienced improved PCOS symptoms.
Another study has found that post-HIIT workouts, cortisol and testosterone levels return to normal within 2 to 3 hours of exercise. This study also found that despite the initial increase, HIIT workouts can actually help lower your cortisol and stress levels over a period of 24 hours.
More research needs to be done in this area, but a moderate amount of HIIT exercise does not appear to make symptoms of PCOS worse.
What Should an Ideal Workout for PCOS Look Like?
So, is there a balanced way to exercise in PCOS? Yes. Most experts recommend exercising for at least 150 min a week if you have PCOS. This can be split into 30 min of exercise everyday, for 5 days a week, with 2 days of rest included. Striking a balance between cardio or aerobic exercise, HIIT workout, strength or resistance training and mind-body exercises like yoga or tai chi can help you achieve the best possible results for managing PCOS. Trying to make a balanced workout plan for PCOS? Check out the plan below and use it as a base for forming your own PCOS fitness routine.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 30 min of cardio AND 15 to 30 min of yoga/ pilates/ tai chi | 15 min of HIIT workout AND 30 mins of strength or resistance training | Rest OR Active rest with foam rolling or stretching | 15 min of HIIT workout AND 30 min of cardio | 30 to 45 min of cardio | 15 min of HIIT workout AND 30 min of strength or resistance training | Rest OR Active rest with yoga or stretching |
Key Takeways
- Exercise is crucial for maintaining overall good health.
- Exercise can help improve PCOS symptoms by improving insulin resistance, reducing cholesterol levels, and contributing to weight loss. It is a key component of lifestyle interventions for treating PCOS.
- Recently, there has been some worrying research that implies that HIIT workout or other similar high-intensity exercises can increase your cortisol and testosterone levels and thus be bad for women with PCOS.
- There have been no significant studies that suggest that any type of exercise can worsen PCOS. However, it is important to note that excessive exercise can worsen your condition.
- A balanced exercise routine that includes cardio, HIIT workouts, strength training, and relaxation practices can help you manage your PCOS effectively.
- Experts recommend exercising for at least 30 min daily, 5 days a week.
