Exercise linked to reduced perimenopause symptoms

New research indicates that frequent physical activity is associated with a lower burden of symptoms during perimenopause. An international analysis of over 1,800 women, presented at The Menopause Society 2026 Annual Meeting, found that women exercising five or more days per week reported lower symptom scores across somatic, psychological, and urogenital categories compared to those who were inactive.

The most significant benefits were observed in psychological health markers, specifically regarding reductions in anxiety, irritability, and low mood. Researchers from Flo Health and Mayo Clinic noted that while these observational findings show a strong correlation, they do not establish direct causation.

Complementary research published in Scientific Reports, involving a meta-analysis of over 24,000 women, highlighted that perimenopausal women report higher odds of anxiety symptoms compared to premenopausal women, with the highest levels of anxiety reported during the perimenopausal stage.