Can too much exercise make PCOS worse?
Izzah20sFemale
How much exercise is considered “too much,” and is HIIT a good option for people with PCOS?
15 Oct 2025
Replies
Answer from the Doctor
Every woman with PCOS is different.
It really depends on your hormone levels — for example, if your DHEA is imbalanced, stress might actually be one of the main contributing factors for you.
When I say “excessive exercise,” I’m referring to very intense workouts such as cardio or HIIT sessions. High intensity means the kind of exercise where you’re so breathless afterward that you can’t talk or sing comfortably. If you’re doing this type of workout more than three times a week, or for more than an hour each session, that would already count as over-exercising.
Everyone has a different tolerance level.
If your stress levels are high or you feel anxious about your weight, it may be better to scale down your workouts a little. You can still do HIIT — just shorten the sessions or reduce the frequency, for example once a week for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, try more calming and restorative forms of movement such as yoga or pilates, which help strengthen the body while keeping stress under control.
It really depends on your hormone levels — for example, if your DHEA is imbalanced, stress might actually be one of the main contributing factors for you.
When I say “excessive exercise,” I’m referring to very intense workouts such as cardio or HIIT sessions. High intensity means the kind of exercise where you’re so breathless afterward that you can’t talk or sing comfortably. If you’re doing this type of workout more than three times a week, or for more than an hour each session, that would already count as over-exercising.
Everyone has a different tolerance level.
If your stress levels are high or you feel anxious about your weight, it may be better to scale down your workouts a little. You can still do HIIT — just shorten the sessions or reduce the frequency, for example once a week for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, try more calming and restorative forms of movement such as yoga or pilates, which help strengthen the body while keeping stress under control.
15 Oct 2025
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