Breaking a sweat could ease the perimenopause struggle. A large international study found that women who exercised more frequently reported significantly lower symptom burden across physical, psychological, and urogenital domains — with the biggest gains seen in mood, anxiety, and irritability. Researchers say regular movement is a low-risk, accessible tool for women navigating the menopause transition.
Breaking a sweat could ease the perimenopause struggle
A new cross-sectional study using data from the Flo women's health app found that perimenopausal women who exercised more frequently reported meaningfully lower symptom burden. The study, presented at The Menopause Society's annual meeting, included 1,808 women from 87 countries who self-reported being in perimenopause and completed surveys on exercise habits and symptoms.
Researchers used the validated Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) to assess symptoms across three domains — psychological, somatic, and urogenital. The standout finding: psychological symptoms like low mood, anxiety, and irritability showed the strongest improvement with increased physical activity, making exercise a potentially powerful tool for mental well-being during this life stage.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: With perimenopause affecting millions of women globally, exercise offers a low-cost, low-risk intervention that clinicians can readily recommend — and one that may support both physical and mental well-being during the menopause transition.
