Does other aerobic exercise affect menopause symptoms overall in menopause? What 16 studies found

An overview of 17 reviews covering 80 studies found yoga improved physical, urogenital, and total menopause symptoms, while aerobic exercise findings were inconclusive.

Reported an improvementSystematic review · 8,983 participants pooled · 2024Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed

A review of eight randomised trials in climacteric women found aerobic exercise improved menopause symptoms and quality of life, while resistance training strengthened muscles and increased bone density.

Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed

A systematic review of 11 studies in peri and postmenopausal women found pelvic floor and mind-body exercise programs most linked to improved sexual function, while aerobic exercise showed inconsistent results and resistance training showed no benefit.

Direction not statedSystematic review · 2020Midlife womenCited 42 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.

No difference foundRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 81 timesPubMed

In an 88 woman 12 week RCT, postmenopausal women practicing Hatha yoga reported lower menopausal symptom and depression scores and higher quality of life than control and exercise groups.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 88 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed

Perimenopausal women who walked briskly three or more times weekly for 12 weeks reported greater reductions in menopausal symptom scores, cholesterol, triglycerides and weight than controls.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 111 women · 12 weeks · 2014PerimenopausalCited 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

In a 12-week RCT of early menopausal women, aerobic exercise alone and combined with nutrition education reduced menopause symptom scores and improved quality of life more than control.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 108 women · 12 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed

In 44 postmenopausal women after hysterectomy, 6 months of moderate aerobic exercise improved quality of life and reduced menopausal symptoms regardless of whether estrogen therapy was also taken.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 26 weeks · 2008PostmenopausalCited 43 timesPubMed

Postmenopausal women who did supervised aerobic or resistance exercise 3 days a week for 8 weeks reported improved menopausal symptoms, lower depression and better quality of life, with no change in lipid profiles.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 8 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 31 timesPubMed

A scoping review found one randomized study of a structured aerobic exercise program for menopausal women at work reported slight improvement in workability and mental strain.

Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed

Early postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of twice-weekly jazz dance; the dance group showed improved menopausal symptoms, anxiety, depression and stress scores versus control.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 16 weeks · 2025Early postmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed

Over 16 weeks, 70 postmenopausal women did jazz dance or concurrent training; menopausal symptoms improved over time in all groups, including controls, with no difference between groups.

No difference foundRandomised trial · 70 women · 16 weeks · 2026Early postmenopausalPubMed

Across MsFLASH trials of over 1,300 women, researchers found yoga or exercise did not reduce hot flashes compared with usual activity.

Direction not statedOther · 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.

Direction not statedOther · 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.

Reported an improvementOther · 2015Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed