Holistic impacts of yoga on primary dysmenorrhea in young women: A scoping review of psychological outcomes beyond pain relief

Introduction Primary dysmenorrhea is a condition that significantly impacts the psychological well-being of many adolescent girls, leading to mental, social, and emotional distress. This scoping review explores the effects of yoga on menstrual pain and health, with a specific focus on psychological outcomes. Methods The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed in the preparation of this review. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database were screened up to June 28, 2025, using the keywords related to "yoga," and "primary dysmenorrhea." English-language randomized controlled trials that studied yoga, primary dysmenorrhea, and mental health or well-being were eligible for inclusion. This review synthesizes available evidence from studies investigating the effects of yoga on psychological outcomes, such as mood, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. Results From a total of 440 identified articles, 8 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria for this review. The findings revealed statistically significant improvements across multiple domains including psychological or perceived well-being, quality of life following yoga interventions. These show the potential of yoga as a safe and effective intervention for promoting mental well-being in women with primary dysmenorrhea, extending benefits beyond pain relief. Conclusion Yoga-based interventions appear to improve psychological well-being, body awareness, menstrual attitudes, and quality of life in young women with primary dysmenorrhea, extending beyond pain relief. These findings support a holistic approach to menstrual health; however, due to variability in study designs and limited comparative evidence, results should be interpreted with caution. Further well-designed studies are needed to establish long-term effectiveness and broader applicability.