The potential benefits of yoga for psychological well-being among people facing infertility.

چکیده اصلی

INTRODUCTION: Infertility is a global health concern affecting millions of persons, and is associated with psychological strains, including anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms. Women undergoing investigation and Artificial Reproductive Technologies may seek complementary interventions, such as yoga, to support psychological well-being. AIM: The aim of this scoping review was to map and synthesize the existing research on the use of yoga among women undergoing investigation and/or treatment for infertility, and to identify reported outcomes and research gaps. METHOD: A scoping review was conducted according to JBI methodology and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Systematic searches were performed in CINAHL, PubMed and Web of Science for articles published between 2014 and 2025. Studies examining yoga interventions among women with infertility were included and charted. RESULTS: Three studies involving a total of 297 women met the inclusion criteria. The studies were conducted in Canada, Italy and Turkey and applied different yoga interventions, primarily Hatha yoga. The findings of this study are presented under two main categories: Characteristics of study samples and interventions and Impact of yoga on mental health indicators and quality of life. None of the included studies assessed pregnancy or fertility treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: Yoga appears to be a promising complementary intervention for reducing psychological distress among women experiencing infertility. However, the limited number of valuable studies and heterogeneity of study designs highlight the need for further research, particularly regarding long-term effects and reproductive outcomes.

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