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.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 2020Midlife womenCited 62 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of five trials found Kegel pelvic floor exercise, done for 4 to 12 weeks, improved urinary symptom related quality of life in postmenopausal women but not sexual symptom quality of life.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 268 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of five RCTs found pelvic floor muscle training significantly reduced urinary incontinence severity in postmenopausal women compared with controls.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
A systematic review of RCTs in postmenopausal women found pelvic floor physical therapy showed an overall positive effect on urge incontinence symptoms, though more quality trials are needed.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 17,132 participants pooled · 2023PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
A systematic review of six randomized trials in postmenopausal women found pelvic floor physiotherapy, including pelvic floor muscle training, was effective for stress urinary incontinence but lacked a clear best method.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 715 participants pooled · 2023PostmenopausalCited 8 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 meta-analysis of 21 trials found pelvic floor muscle exercises in postmenopausal women improved quality of life, sexual function, urinary incontinence, and pelvic floor function, with no effect on psychological status.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A systematic review of nine studies using virtual reality exercise games in climacteric women found improvements in pelvic floor strength, balance, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone density versus conventional approaches.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 298 participants pooled · 2022PerimenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence did pelvic floor muscle exercises for eight sessions over a month, with biofeedback improving strength and quality of life more than exercise alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 4 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 71 timesPubMed
A review of unsupervised pelvic floor muscle training programs found improvements in urinary incontinence symptoms and pelvic floor muscle strength in middle-aged women, mostly without supervision.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2020Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did a 12 session pelvic floor muscle training program and showed increased pelvic floor muscle contraction and reduced urinary symptoms and prolapse.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 6 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 51 timesPubMed
Women averaging age 53 with stress urinary incontinence did 12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training, alone or combined with transversus abdominis training, improving quality of life in both groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 137 women · 12 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 30 timesPubMed
In 140 perimenopausal women with stage 1 stress urinary incontinence, 12 weeks of pelvic floor exercises improved quality of life, with greater benefit when combined with transverse abdominal muscle tensing.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 140 women · 12 weeks · 2017PerimenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed
In an RCT of 77 postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training did not change sexual function scores but was linked to fewer women with sexual dysfunction versus controls.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 77 women · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed
Women with urinary incontinence received electrical stimulation plus pelvic floor training or pelvic floor training alone; sexual function scores did not differ between groups.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 114 women · 2018Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed
117 climacteric women with stress incontinence received radiofrequency, pelvic floor muscle training, or both; urinary scores improved in all groups, most with combined treatment.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 117 women · 12 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 20 timesPubMed
Climacteric women aged 40 to 60 with dyspareunia had five sessions of pelvic floor muscle training, which reduced pain and improved quality of life and sexual function more than lower back therapy.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 42 women · 5 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 25 timesPubMed
In elderly postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence, 8 weeks of daily Kegel exercises did not differ significantly from vaginal electrical stimulation in improving urinary leakage.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 35 women · 8 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence did pelvic floor muscle training or vaginal cone therapy for 6 weeks, both reducing urinary leakage and improving pelvic floor pressure and quality of life versus control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 6 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence who did 6 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training, with or without vaginal cones, reported reduced urinary leakage and improved quality of life lasting 12 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 6 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
In 99 postmenopausal women, pelvic floor muscle training over 12 weeks increased pelvic floor strength more in women not using hormone therapy than in those using it.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 88 women · 12 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed
In a trial of women with stress urinary incontinence, supervised pelvic floor physical therapy twice weekly for 3 months improved pelvic floor muscle strength and quality of life, similar to laser therapy.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 32 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
In an RCT of 299 women with stress urinary incontinence, mean age 52, device guided pelvic floor muscle training improved incontinence symptom scores more than standard home training at 6 and 12 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 299 women · 52 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 10 sessions of pelvic floor training using virtual reality or a gym ball, with both methods improving pelvic floor muscle strength similarly.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 2016PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with stress incontinence did Rumba dance plus breathing training for 16 weeks and reported less urine leakage, stronger pelvic floor muscles and better quality of life.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 16 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence who did pelvic floor training plus electrical stimulation and biofeedback for 6 months improved more when intravaginal estriol was added.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 62 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence did pelvic floor training or Pilates for 12 weeks and both groups reported improved incontinence symptoms and quality of life, with no difference between groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
In sedentary postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence, an eight week multimodal exercise program improved incontinence related quality of life and symptom severity more than pelvic floor training alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 8 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women with stress incontinence, pelvic floor muscle exercise plus estriol reduced incontinence scores more than pelvic floor exercise alone over 18 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 66 women · 78 weeks · 2001PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
In perimenopausal women with pelvic floor dysfunction, 3 months of combined Kegel and yoga exercise improved symptoms, quality of life and pelvic floor muscle strength more than Kegel exercise alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 74 women · 12 weeks · 2021PerimenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
115 postmenopausal women with low bone mass did 8 months of high-intensity resistance and impact training or low-intensity Pilates, and pelvic floor related quality of life did not differ between groups.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 115 women · 32 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse did 12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training, and adding ultrasound biofeedback gave greater improvement in prolapse measurements than training alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 77 women · 12 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
Climacteric women with stress incontinence did a 12-week abdominopelvic exercise program, with or without postural instructions, both improved pelvic floor muscle function but not incontinence symptoms.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 12 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
In a 12-week RCT of 70 postmenopausal women with stress incontinence, both Kegel-only and Kegel plus abdominal exercises reduced incontinence severity and improved quality of life and sleep, with the combination performing better.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 70 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women with stress incontinence, 12 weeks of electromagnetic stimulation and visceral manipulation added to pelvic floor muscle training improved vaginal squeeze pressure and incontinence symptom scores more than pelvic floor training alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 50 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Twenty-two postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence did 12 weeks of telehealth or face-to-face pelvic floor muscle training; urinary symptoms and pelvic floor function improved in both groups with no difference between them.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 22 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women aged 55 and older, unsupervised behavioral pelvic floor muscle training delivered by class or video both reduced nocturia and urinary urgency with no difference between formats.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 104 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
A single session of pelvic floor muscle training in 103 postmenopausal women improved objectively measured vaginal lubrication compared with a no-intervention control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 103 women · 2026PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In 164 postmenopausal women taught pelvic floor and bladder training over a year, using a routine daily approach was linked to much higher adherence than an ad hoc approach.
Direction not statedCohort study · 164 women · 52 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with pelvic floor dysfunction used a digital pelvic floor muscle training and education program and reported less symptom impact, better mental health and improved work productivity.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 3,051 women · 2025PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
In 68 women averaging 50.5 years with urinary incontinence, a 4 month home pelvic floor exercise program reduced incontinence severity and improved pelvic floor strength regardless of adherence level.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 68 women · 16 weeks · 2012Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
Women with urinary incontinence across menopause stages did 12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training; strength improved in all groups but least in late transition and early menopause.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 122 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
A randomised trial of 61 postmenopausal women with stress incontinence found 8 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training with vaginal androgen cream reduced symptoms more than training with placebo.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 61 women · 8 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
46 middle-aged women with urinary incontinence did 8 weeks of either a body technique program or pelvic floor muscle training, and both groups reported increased pelvic floor strength and improved quality of life.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 46 women · 8 weeks · 2025Midlife womenPubMed
Postmenopausal women with urinary symptoms did a 10 session virtual reality pelvic floor training programme, which increased pelvic floor muscle strength and reduced urinary symptoms.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 27 women · 5 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
In an 8-week trial in postmenopausal women, pelvic floor training plus active photobiomodulation improved sexual function scores more than training plus sham photobiomodulation; pelvic pressure did not differ significantly.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 8 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
A 12 week pelvic floor muscle training program in postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause reduced symptoms and improved quality of life and sexual function.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 32 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women took part in a 10 session abdominopelvic kinesiotherapy programme, which increased pelvic floor muscle strength and reduced urinary symptoms.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 38 women · 3 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women with stress urinary incontinence did 8 weeks of pelvic floor muscle exercises with or without added electrical stimulation, and the combined group showed greater improvement in symptoms and quality of life.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 54 women · 8 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause did pelvic floor muscle training and showed improved vulvovaginal blood flow, muscle relaxation speed, and tissue elasticity.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 29 women · 2020PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed
Among 153 women aged 30 to 50 with stress urinary incontinence, pelvic floor muscle exercise taught during a clinic visit led to complete relief in about 10% and partial improvement in about 47% after 4 to 6 months.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 153 women · 20 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women with urinary incontinence did a 4-week pelvic floor exercise and bladder training program, and reported fewer leakage episodes and better quality of life than controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 60 women · 4 weeks · 2005Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Sedentary postmenopausal women did a 3-month exercise and pelvic floor training program, which increased pelvic floor muscle strength and reduced anxiety but did not improve sexual function.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 32 women · 12 weeks · 2012Early postmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women with urinary incontinence did an 8-week combined pelvic muscle exercise and yoga program, reporting improved pelvic muscle strength and incontinence symptoms.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 55 women · 8 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed
A retrospective cohort study of women aged 60 and over with obesity-related incontinence found pelvic floor muscle training achieved higher one-year continence remission than bariatric surgery or no treatment.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 52 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
A trial protocol will compare pelvic floor muscle training alone versus combined with photobiomodulation in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause, over 16 sessions, with no results yet.
Direction not statedOther · 8 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
A trial protocol will compare 12 weeks of urban dance versus functional fitness against a control group for physical and psychological effects in postmenopausal women aged 40 to 59.
Direction not statedOther · 12 weeks · 2025Early postmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
This protocol describes a planned trial comparing pelvic floor physiotherapy versus laser therapy for genitourinary symptoms in breast cancer survivors, with no results yet available.
Direction not statedOther · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed