TL;DR
A study of more than 1,800 Flo app users in 87 countries found that more frequent physical activity was associated with lower perimenopause symptom scores. Researchers said the apparent link was strongest for psychological symptoms, but the survey does not establish that activity caused the differences. The findings are scheduled for presentation at The Menopause Society’s 2026 annual meeting.
A survey of more than 1,800 Flo app users across 87 countries found that people reporting more frequent physical activity also reported lower perimenopause symptom scores, according to findings scheduled for presentation at The Menopause Society’s annual meeting in San Diego. The results show an association, not proof that exercise reduces symptoms, and the researchers say further study is needed.
Participants described their activity frequency on an online survey, using options ranging from “not physically active” to more than five days a week. They also reported symptoms, which researchers assessed across somatic, psychological and urogenital domains using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). The report describes respondents as users of the Flo app and says they came from six continents.
The researchers examined the relationship between activity frequency and MRS scores using multivariable linear regression. They said they prespecified potential confounders using a causal framework, including age, body mass index, smoking, comorbidities and healthcare access, as well as the country-level Socio-Demographic Index. The report also describes an unadjusted analysis in which mean total MRS scores showed a statistically significant inverse association with increasing activity frequency across the symptom domains.
Dr. Liudmila Zhaunova, the study’s presenting author and director of science at Flo Health, said the association appeared strongest for psychological symptoms. “Something that stood out to us was that the benefits of physical activity seemed to be strongest for psychological symptoms like low mood, irritability and anxiety,” she said. Her comment describes the study team’s interpretation; the supplied report does not provide effect sizes or adjusted results that would show how large the associations were.
Activity and Midlife Symptom Burden
The findings add international survey data to a question the report describes as underexplored in global populations: whether physical activity frequency is related to the range of symptoms people experience during perimenopause. The study includes respondents across 87 countries, rather than drawing on a single national sample, and considers psychological as well as physical and urogenital symptoms.
If the association is supported by further research, it could help inform conversations about everyday ways to support well-being during the menopause transition. The report notes that physical activity is already recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle in midlife. But these findings do not establish an exercise prescription, show that activity can replace medical care, or establish that people who are less active will have more symptoms. Individual symptoms and health circumstances vary.
Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of The Menopause Society, said the study suggests that women who are more physically active may experience a lower symptom burden, particularly psychological symptoms. She also characterized regular activity as a low-risk strategy that may support overall well-being, while noting that additional research is needed. That qualification matters: the survey can identify a pattern, but it cannot show that increasing activity would produce the same change in symptoms.
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How the Survey Measured Symptoms
Perimenopause is the period before menopause, when hormonal changes can be accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms that affect quality of life. The study set out to examine whether reported activity frequency corresponded with symptom burden during this phase, using a scale covering somatic, psychological and urogenital experiences.
The researchers recruited respondents through the Flo app and asked them to report how often they were physically active. They then compared activity frequency with MRS scores, accounting in their models for several characteristics that might affect both activity and symptoms. The supplied report does not describe the survey dates, recruitment details beyond app use, or the exact distribution of participants by country.
The findings are due to be discussed in a presentation titled “Physical activity frequency and perimenopause symptom burden: Global insights from the Flo app” at The Menopause Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting, scheduled for October 20-24 in San Diego. The source material reports the planned presentation but does not provide a journal publication or a full paper.
“Something that stood out to us was that the benefits of physical activity seemed to be strongest for psychological symptoms like low mood, irritability and anxiety. These symptoms can really impact daily life, and regular movement may be an accessible way to help.”
— Dr. Liudmila Zhaunova, presenting author and director of science at Flo Health
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Limits of the Reported Evidence
The reported relationship is observational and based on survey responses. It does not show whether physical activity led to lower symptom scores, whether symptoms affected participants’ ability or willingness to exercise, or whether other factors contributed to both. The described adjustment for potential confounders can address measured factors in the model, but does not by itself establish cause and effect.
The available material does not give the actual MRS score differences, confidence intervals, adjusted model estimates, participant demographics beyond the broad international reach, or details about how perimenopause status was determined. It also does not make clear whether activity was measured objectively or whether symptom reports were checked over time. The report mentions a statistically significant inverse association in unadjusted analysis but does not supply enough figures to assess its size or practical importance.
It is also unclear from the supplied material whether the findings have undergone peer review or appeared in a full research paper. The scheduled conference presentation may provide additional methods and results. Until then, the findings should be read as evidence of a reported association, not as proof that exercise treats perimenopause symptoms.
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Conference Presentation and Follow-Up
The researchers are scheduled to present the study at The Menopause Society’s annual meeting in San Diego, running October 20-24, 2026. The presentation may provide more detail on the size of the associations, the adjusted analyses and how the sample was assembled. Those details would help readers assess how the results apply beyond people who use the Flo app.
The report says further research is needed to better understand the relationship between activity and perimenopause symptoms. Follow-up work could clarify whether changes in physical activity correspond to changes in symptoms over time and whether the pattern holds in other populations and study designs. No such follow-up results or publication date are specified in the supplied material.
The study does not provide individualized medical guidance. People considering changes to activity or seeking help for perimenopause symptoms can discuss their circumstances with a qualified health professional.
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Key Questions
What did the study find?
Among more than 1,800 app users in 87 countries, more frequent self-reported physical activity was associated with lower Menopause Rating Scale symptom scores. The study report says the apparent association was strongest for psychological symptoms, including low mood, irritability and anxiety.
Does the study prove that exercise reduces perimenopause symptoms?
No. The reported findings show an association between activity frequency and symptom scores. The survey design described in the source does not establish that physical activity caused lower symptom burden.
Who took part in the research?
The study included more than 1,800 respondents who used the Flo app, from 87 countries across six continents. The source material does not provide a detailed breakdown of participants by country or other demographics.
When will the findings be presented?
The study is scheduled for presentation at The Menopause Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego, October 20-24. The source material does not identify a journal publication date.
Can the results guide an individual treatment decision?
The study does not offer individualized treatment advice or show that exercise is a substitute for medical care. People with questions about perimenopause symptoms or activity should discuss their needs with a qualified health professional.
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