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 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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
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