Perimenopause: women who exercise more report milder symptoms, survey finds
By Vikram JoshiLife Balance Correspondent, Peepals Shakti
Representative image: Pexels / Pixabay
A survey of 1,808 women in perimenopause across 87 countries, shown at The Menopause Society meeting in October 2026, linked more frequent exercise with milder symptoms.
What Happened
Women in perimenopause who exercised more often reported milder symptoms than those who were inactive, according to a survey of 1,808 women from 87 countries presented at The Menopause Society's 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, held from October 20 to 24. The study, carried out by researchers from the women's health app Flo and Mayo Clinic, found that the average symptom score fell from 17.46 among inactive women to 13.77 among those active five or more days a week. The link was strongest for psychological symptoms such as mood changes and anxiety.
Key Facts
- Study: "Physical activity frequency and perimenopause symptom burden: global insights from the Flo app", presented as a poster at The Menopause Society's meeting, October 20 to 24, 2026.
- Participants: 1,808 app users aged 35 and above who identified themselves as being in perimenopause, with an average age of 45, from 87 countries across six continents.
- Women using hormonal contraception or hormone therapy were excluded.
- Design: an online survey taken at one point in time; activity was self-reported on a five-step scale and symptoms were measured with the Menopause Rating Scale.
- Average symptom score: 17.46 for inactive respondents and 13.77 for those active five or more days a week.
- The association held after the researchers adjusted for other factors, and was strongest for psychological symptoms.
Why It Matters
Perimenopause is the transition before periods stop for good. The Menopause Rating Scale used in this study measures three kinds of symptoms: psychological ones such as low mood and anxiety, physical ones, and urogenital ones. The women surveyed had an average age of 45, a stage of life when many are balancing jobs and family responsibilities, so symptoms that affect mood can spill over into work and home.
This study adds evidence that regular physical activity is associated with a lighter symptom load, especially for the emotional and mental symptoms that many women find hardest to talk about. The gap between inactive women and those active most days was 3.69 points on the scale, about a fifth lower for the most active group.
It is also notable for its reach: the survey drew on women in 87 countries across six continents who use the app in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
The limits matter, and the researchers acknowledge them. The study looks at women at one point in time, so it cannot show that exercise causes symptoms to ease; women with milder symptoms may simply find it easier to stay active. Activity and symptoms were self-reported. And app users who choose to answer a survey may not represent all women, including many in India who do not use such apps.
| Days active per week | Average symptom score (Menopause Rating Scale) |
|---|---|
| None (inactive) | 17.46 |
| Five or more | 13.77 |
Impact
Short-term: The findings add to the case for staying active during perimenopause as a low-cost habit that is associated with better mood and wellbeing. Women who are struggling with symptoms should still speak to a doctor, since a survey like this cannot replace medical advice.
Long-term: Larger studies that follow women over time are needed to show whether increasing activity actually reduces symptoms. If they do, workplaces and health programmes could do more to make time and space for physical activity for women in midlife.
Who is affected: Women in their late thirties, forties and fifties, their doctors and gynaecologists, employers designing wellbeing programmes, and researchers studying women's midlife health.
Key Takeaway
A survey of 1,808 women in 87 countries links more frequent exercise during perimenopause with milder symptoms, especially mood-related ones, though it cannot prove cause and effect.
Questions and Answers
Does exercise help with perimenopause symptoms?
A survey of 1,808 women in 87 countries, presented in October 2026, found that women active five or more days a week had lower symptom scores (13.77) than inactive women (17.46). The study shows an association, not proof that exercise causes the improvement.
Which symptoms were most linked to physical activity?
The association was strongest for psychological symptoms, such as mood changes, irritability and anxiety.
Who carried out the study?
Researchers from the women's health app Flo and Mayo Clinic, who presented it as a poster at The Menopause Society's 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
What are the study's limits?
It surveyed women at one point in time, used self-reported activity and symptoms, excluded women on hormonal treatment, and included only app users who chose to respond, so its results may not apply to all women.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Vikram Joshi, Life Balance CorrespondentCovers Life Balance and more for Peepals Shakti. All stories by Vikram Joshi
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Vikram Joshi is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
