Program to Overcome Pelvic Pain With Yoga

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Women aged 21 years or older who report difficulties with pelvic or genital pain for
at least 6 months

2. Report that their chronic pelvic or genital pain has had an adverse effect on their
interest in or ability to enjoy sexual activity

3. Report an eligible average daily pain intensity score after completion of a Daily
Pain Log for one week prior to baseline

4. Have an established primary care or gynecologic healthcare provider (to facilitate
medical follow-up of any health issues detected incidentally in the study or adverse
events that develop during the study)

5. Report prior clinical evaluation of their pelvic or genital pain by a health care
professional including at least a superficial pelvic exam

6. Willing to refrain from initiating other new clinical treatments that may affect
their pelvic or genital pain during the study period (6 weeks)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participation in organized yoga classes in the past 1 month, or any prior yoga
therapy directed specifically at pelvic or genital pain (regardless of timing)

2. Currently pregnant (by self-report or screening test), pregnant within the past 6
months, planning pregnancy during the study, or unwilling to use contraception (if
not postmenopausal) during the study

3. Diagnosed with an alternate cause of pain that is unlikely to respond to yoga and
requires another treatment modality, such as pelvic infection or a gynecologic
dermatosis

4. Surgery to the vulva, vagina, cervix, or pelvic organs within 6 months of screening,
or any prior history of cancer or irradiation to these structures

5. Initiation of or dose escalation of pharmacologic agents that may affect pelvic or
genital pain in the past 1 month (e.g., antidepressants, anticonvulsants,
anxiolytics)—women on stable dose for >1 month are eligible

6. Use of formal psychological therapies specifically for pelvic or genital pain (e.g.,
systematic desensitization, sex therapy, cognitive therapy, relaxation therapy)
within 1 month of screening

7. Use of formal behavioral therapies for pelvic or genital pain (e.g., pelvic floor
rehabilitation or biofeedback performed by a certified healthcare practitioner)
within 1 month of screening

8. Unable to walk up a flight of stairs or at least 2 blocks on level ground (i.e.,
functional capacity < 4 METs), or unable to get up from a supine to a standing
position without assistance in <10 seconds

9. Currently involved in a malpractice suit or other litigation specifically related to
pelvic or genital pain

10. Participation in another interventional study that might interfere with or confound
study procedures, inability to sign an informed consent or fill out questionnaires,
or conflict with available yoga class dates