A meta-analysis of 13 RCTs with 1306 women found yoga reduced total menopausal symptoms, including vasomotor and psychological symptoms, compared to no treatment, similar to other exercise.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,306 participants pooled · 2018Midlife womenCited 48 timesPubMed
A Cochrane review of five trials in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found insufficient evidence that exercise reduces hot flushes or night sweats compared with no treatment, yoga, or hormone therapy.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 733 participants pooled · 2014Midlife womenCited 59 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 21 trials in 2884 menopausal women found structured exercise slightly improved hot flush severity but not frequency, with very low certainty evidence.
Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 2,884 participants pooled · 2022Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed
An umbrella review and meta-analysis of yoga trials in peri- and postmenopausal women found yoga reduced hot flushes and psychological symptoms compared with controls, with quality of life rarely reported.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 927 participants pooled · 2017Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 trials found resistance training in postmenopausal women improved functional capacity, bone density, and reduced hot flash frequency and fat mass versus no exercise.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 452 participants pooled · 16 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of nine randomized trials found exercise, especially yoga, improved physical and psychological quality of life in women with menopausal symptoms, but not general or menopause-specific scores.
Direction not statedMeta-analysis · 2020Midlife womenCited 62 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 24 RCTs in menopausal women found yoga improved menopausal symptoms, sleep, anxiety, depression, BMI and blood pressure, but not hot flushes or quality of life.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 2,028 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of nine trials with 1579 women with hot flushes found physical activity did not significantly improve sleep quality or insomnia but produced minor improvement in sleep problems.
Direction not statedMeta-analysis · 1,579 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 18 trials found that yoga, tai chi, meditation and relaxation practices often improved overall menopausal symptoms, hot flushes, mood, sleep and musculoskeletal pain.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 882 participants pooled · 2010Midlife womenCited 58 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of six RCTs found insufficient evidence that exercise reduces hot flushes and night sweats in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, or that it outperforms hormone therapy or yoga.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 2011Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
A review of 23 studies found exercise-based and mind-body interventions improved quality of life, menopausal symptoms and depression in Asian perimenopausal women, but not hot flashes.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 2020PerimenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
An overview of 17 reviews covering 80 studies found yoga improved physical, urogenital, and total menopause symptoms, while aerobic exercise findings were inconclusive.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 8,983 participants pooled · 2024Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
A pooled analysis of three trials including yoga for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found yoga reduced hot flush frequency over 8 weeks similarly to acupuncture and education, more than usual care.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 8 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of eight RCTs in postmenopausal women found 12 weeks of exercise improved sexuality and psychological menopause symptoms but not vasomotor symptoms.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 1,127 participants pooled · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed
In breast cancer patients with treatment induced menopause, physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy reduced endocrine and urinary symptoms and improved physical functioning over 6 months compared with a waiting list.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 422 women · 26 weeks · 2012Midlife womenCited 163 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 5 studies found resistance training programs were associated with reduced severity and frequency of hot flushes in postmenopausal women compared to controls.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2024PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
A systematic review of seven studies found insufficient rigorous evidence that yoga reduces menopausal symptoms compared with walking, exercise or no treatment.
No difference foundSystematic review · 2009Midlife womenCited 46 timesPubMed
In sedentary perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of facility-based aerobic exercise three times weekly did not reduce hot flush frequency or bother versus usual activity.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 248 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 135 timesPubMed
Breast cancer survivors with hot flashes did an 8 week Yoga of Awareness program and reported greater improvements in hot flash frequency, severity, joint pain, fatigue and sleep than a wait-list group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 37 women · 8 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 182 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 12 RCTs found strength exercises in menopausal women reported improvements in leg and pelvic floor strength, bone density, metabolic and hormonal markers, blood pressure, and hot flashes.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2023Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed
A review of controlled trials found exercise trials for hot flushes gave mixed results, while one yoga trial reduced hot flushes and improved cognitive symptoms more than exercise.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2014Midlife womenCited 27 timesPubMed
A review of 26 RCTs found yoga trials showed mixed results for hot flushes and night sweats, while CBT and relaxation therapies more consistently reduced symptoms in menopausal women and breast cancer survivors.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2017Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed
Late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women did an 8-week mindfulness training program, and reported bother from hot flashes decreased more than with a wait-list control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 110 women · 12 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 110 timesPubMed
A systematic review of nonhormonal options for menopausal hot flashes found exercise among therapies with short-term evidence of safety and effectiveness.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2004Midlife womenCited 32 timesPubMed
Among sedentary peri and postmenopausal women randomized to yoga, aerobic exercise or usual activity plus omega-3 or placebo, omega-3 did not improve hot flush frequency, bother, sleep or mood versus placebo over 12 weeks.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 355 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 63 timesPubMed
A Cochrane review found only one small trial comparing exercise with hormone therapy for hot flushes, and exercise was less effective than hormone therapy in that trial.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2007Midlife womenCited 23 timesPubMed
Peri- and postmenopausal women with hot flushes did 12 weeks of yoga classes or individualized aerobic exercise; yoga improved menopause-related quality of life scores versus usual activity, exercise did not.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 355 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 62 timesPubMed
In a yearlong trial, 173 overweight postmenopausal women doing moderate-intensity exercise versus stretching had increased hot flash severity and less memory problems, with no other symptom changes.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 81 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women given exercise support for six months did not report significantly fewer hot flushes or night sweats than controls.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 261 women · 26 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 55 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with hot flushes tried yoga or aerobic exercise for up to 12 weeks, and neither reduced hot flush frequency or bother compared to control.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 899 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 42 timesPubMed
Overweight women with urinary incontinence did a 6-month behavioral weight loss program versus health education, with weight loss linked to improved hot flush bother, though physical activity change itself was not related.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 338 women · 26 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 54 timesPubMed
In 120 perimenopausal women, 8 weeks of yoga reduced vasomotor symptoms, stress and neuroticism more than a supervised physical exercise control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 120 women · 8 weeks · 2008PerimenopausalCited 67 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials in postmenopausal women found exercise based rehabilitation reduced vasomotor symptoms but showed no significant pooled effect on BMI, blood pressure, or physical performance.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Among 113 midlife women in a physical activity trial, increased activity was linked to fewer general menopause symptoms but not to vasomotor or sexual symptoms specifically.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 113 women · 2009Midlife womenCited 57 timesPubMed
In 120 perimenopausal women, 8 weeks of yoga reduced hot flushes, night sweats and sleep disturbance and improved memory and attention test scores more than supervised physical exercise.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 120 women · 8 weeks · 2008PerimenopausalCited 54 timesPubMed
Sedentary postmenopausal women with hot flushes exercised three times weekly for 12 weeks; flush frequency decreased in some women and wellbeing improved, though less than with oestradiol therapy.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 30 women · 12 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 69 timesPubMed
Sedentary menopausal women aged 43 to 63 doing six months of unsupervised aerobic training four times weekly reported improved sleep quality and fewer sleep-disturbing hot flushes than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 176 women · 26 weeks · 2012Midlife womenCited 35 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with frequent hot flushes did 15 weeks of resistance training three times weekly, and reported a larger drop in hot flush frequency than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 58 women · 15 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed
In 176 recently postmenopausal sedentary women, unsupervised aerobic training four times weekly for 24 weeks reduced night sweats, mood swings, and irritability more than health lectures.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 154 women · 24 weeks · 2012Early postmenopausalCited 32 timesPubMed
Women 45 to 60 with breast cancer history who got a 12-week lifestyle program including physical activity reported greater reductions in menopausal symptoms and improved quality of life than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 55 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 34 timesPubMed
Women with frequent hot flushes were randomized to 12 weeks of yoga, aerobic exercise, or usual activity, with adherence of 59% for yoga and 77% for exercise reported.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 355 women · 12 weeks · 2013Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
Pooled data from 1,005 peri and postmenopausal women with hot flushes found yoga and aerobic exercise modestly improved menopause-related quality of life compared with control, with smaller effects than some drug treatments.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 1,005 women · 2020Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with daily hot flushes did resistance training three times weekly for 15 weeks and reported improved menopause-specific quality of life, including vasomotor and sleep domains, versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 15 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with frequent hot flashes did 10 weeks of weekly yoga classes, and researchers found no significant difference in hot flash frequency decline versus education or wait list groups.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 54 women · 10 weeks · 2014PerimenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed
In 112 women aged 45 to 60, a 16-week supervised multicomponent exercise program reduced menopause-related symptom and vasomotor symptom scores more than counseling alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 112 women · 16 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed
In a trial of yoga, exercise and omega-3 supplements for hot flushes in 282 peri and postmenopausal women, heart rate variability did not relate to flush frequency or intensity over 12 weeks.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 282 women · 12 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 15 timesPubMed
In a 12 week RCT of 335 midlife women with hot flushes, neither a yoga program nor supervised aerobic exercise changed heart rate variability compared with a usual activity group.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 335 women · 12 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed
In an RCT of 80 menopausal women, one year of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga improved vasomotor, psychosocial and physical quality of life domains more than brisk walking, with no change in reproductive hormones.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 80 women · 52 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
This trial protocol describes 15 weeks of supervised resistance training three times weekly in sedentary postmenopausal women with frequent hot flushes, with results not yet reported.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 60 women · 15 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women received education, diet guidance, or diet plus resistance exercise for 3 months; all groups reduced climacteric symptom scores, with the combined group showing broad symptom improvement.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 women · 12 weeks · 2022PerimenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with hot flushes did 15 weeks of resistance training three times weekly; luteinising hormone decreased significantly more than in controls, alongside a previously reported drop in hot flushes.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 15 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
A systematic review of randomized trials found that exercise did not reduce the frequency or severity of hot flushes or night sweats in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
No difference foundSystematic review · 2018Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
Peri and postmenopausal women with hot flushes using DVD-based or social-support exercise programs for a year showed a small quality-of-life gain, with social support likely cost-effective.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 261 women · 52 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
In a 4 year follow-up of a 6 month exercise trial, women originally assigned to exercise were more likely to have improved hot flush scores than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 95 women · 24 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
Menopausal women did eight online laughter yoga sessions over four weeks; the yoga group reported lower vasomotor symptom scores and better sleep quality than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 4 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
Women aged 40 to 65 followed a 12 week web-based lifestyle program including exercise goal-setting, and reported reduced anxiety, depression, hot flushes and sexual dysfunction.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 225 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 27 timesPubMed
Thirty-eight postmenopausal women with hot flushes did 12 weeks of combined resistance and walking exercise, and reported reduced vasomotor symptom severity and improved sleep and mood versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In a 10 year cohort of women aged 42 to 52, higher lean body mass was associated with lower odds of hot flushes and night sweats during the menopause transition.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 2,533 women · 2020Midlife womenCited 10 timesPubMed
Symptomatic postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of supervised moderate exercise training, which improved fitness and reduced sweating, skin blood flow changes and self-reported severity during hot flushes versus controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 21 women · 16 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women, a 15-week resistance training program reduced hot flush frequency for up to 6 months, but the benefit was not maintained at 2-year follow-up.
No difference foundCohort study · 35 women · 104 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
In a survey of women aged 46 to 55, regularly active women reported better health related quality of life, but exercise status was not linked to vasomotor symptom scores.
No difference foundCross-sectional study · 1,206 women · 2007Midlife womenCited 50 timesPubMed
Among postmenopausal women who discontinued hormone therapy, 68% used exercise for hot flush relief, and behavioral approaches like exercise were rated more helpful than herbal remedies.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 10,607 women · 2015PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed
A survey of women aged 46 to 55 found most preferred one-to-one exercise support and walking, and exercise participation was not linked to frequency of hot flushes or night sweats.
No difference foundCross-sectional study · 1,693 women · 2011Midlife womenCited 30 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with frequent hot flushes did 8 weeks of restorative yoga and researchers reported fewer and less severe hot flushes by the end of the trial.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 14 women · 8 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 37 timesPubMed
A quasi-experimental trial found 6 to 24 months of Shivam Yoga practice in women aged 40-65 reduced climacteric symptom scores and increased estrogen and testosterone levels versus controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 182 women · 104 weeks · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
Midlife women wore activity and hot flash monitors over 48 hour periods, and researchers found acute activity increases were linked to more self-reported but not physiologically confirmed hot flashes.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 51 women · 2014Midlife womenCited 15 timesPubMed
A 2023 position statement reviewing evidence concluded exercise and yoga are not recommended as effective options for reducing menopausal hot flushes, based on limited evidence.
No difference foundOther · 2023Midlife womenCited 161 timesPubMed
A review reported that combining walking with other weight-bearing exercise, along with calcium and vitamin D, helped reduce bone mineral density loss and fractures in postmenopausal women.
Direction not statedOther · 2010PostmenopausalCited 119 timesPubMed
Across MsFLASH trials of over 1,300 women, researchers found yoga or exercise did not reduce hot flashes compared with usual activity.
No difference foundOther · 1,300 women · 2020Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
A review of trials in menopausal women reported that aerobic exercise and yoga were linked to improved mood, quality of life, insomnia and some vasomotor symptoms compared with no exercise.
Reported an improvementOther · 2009Midlife womenCited 66 timesPubMed
In interviews after a 6 month physical activity trial, menopausal women reported improved hot flushes, night sweats, sleep and psychological wellbeing from being physically active.
Reported an improvementOther · 17 women · 26 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 22 timesPubMed
In breast cancer patients with treatment-induced menopausal symptoms, physical exercise was less cost-effective than cognitive behavioral therapy and did not outperform a waiting list for hot flush relief.
No difference foundOther · 2015Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed
Fifteen low-active postmenopausal women did 15 weeks of resistance training and reported improved well-being and most experienced fewer vasomotor symptoms.
Reported an improvementOther · 15 women · 15 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
A review of trials and studies found that most randomized trials of aerobic and resistance exercise training reported decreased subjectively experienced hot flashes in menopausal women.
Reported an improvementOther · 2023Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
A review of alternative menopause therapies noted that observational studies found exercise was associated with fewer hot flushes, alongside other non-hormonal options.
Reported an improvementOther · 2002Midlife womenCited 27 timesPubMed
Review of randomised trials in breast cancer survivors found exercise studies in healthy menopausal women did not show reduced hot flushes, while yoga may reduce symptom frequency or burden.
Mixed resultsOther · 2021Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed
This review examined lifestyle changes including exercise for hot flashes in menopausal women and called for more randomized trials to confirm benefits.
Direction not statedOther · 2012Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
A narrative review on menopause reported mixed evidence for physical activity and exercise affecting hot flushes, with moderate activity and strength training possibly more favourable than vigorous exercise.
Mixed resultsOther · 2026Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed
A narrative review of psychological and mind-body approaches, including yoga, found empirical support for improving quality of life and symptoms like hot flushes and sleep during menopause.
Reported an improvementOther · 2024Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed