Evidence was insufficient to show whether exercise is an effective treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
One small study suggested that HT is more effective than exercise .
Evidence was insufficient to show the relative effectiveness of exercise when compared with HT or yoga
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that many perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience menopausal symptoms ; hot flushes are the most common .
Symptoms caused by fluctuating levels of oestrogen may be alleviated by hormone therapy ( HT ) , but a marked global decline in its use has result ed from concerns about the risks and benefits of HT .
Consequently , many women are seeking alternatives .
As large numbers of women are choosing not to take HT , it is increasingly important to identify evidence -based lifestyle modifications that have the potential to reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
OBJECTIVES To examine the effectiveness of any type of exercise intervention in the management of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .
Efficacy of yoga for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized controlled trial
Objective This study aims to determine the efficacy of yoga in alleviating vasomotor symptoms ( VMS ) frequency and bother . Methods This study was a three-by-two factorial , r and omized controlled trial . Eligible women were r and omized to yoga ( n = 107 ) , exercise ( n = 106 ) , or usual activity ( n = 142 ) , and were simultaneously r and omized to a double-blind comparison of & ohgr;-3 fatty acid ( n = 177 ) or placebo ( n = 178 ) capsules .  Yoga intervention consisted of 12 weekly 90-minute yoga classes with daily home practice . Primary outcomes were VMS frequency and bother assessed by daily diaries at baseline , 6 weeks , and 12 weeks . Secondary outcomes included insomnia symptoms ( Insomnia Severity Index ) at baseline and 12 weeks . Results Among 249 r and omized women , 237 ( 95 % ) completed 12-week assessment s. The mean baseline VMS frequency was 7.4 per day ( 95 % CI , 6.6 to 8.1 ) in the yoga group and 8.0 per day ( 95 % CI , 7.3 to 8.7 ) in the usual activity group . Intent-to-treat analyses included all participants with response data ( n = 237 ) . There was no difference between intervention groups in the change in VMS frequency from baseline to 6 and 12 weeks ( mean difference [ yoga − usual activity ] from baseline at 6 wk , −0.3 [ 95 % CI , −1.1 to 0.5 ] ; mean difference [ yoga − usual activity ] from baseline at 12 wk , −0.3 [ 95 % CI , −1.2 to 0.6 ] ; P = 0.119 across both time points ) . Results were similar for VMS bother . At week 12 , yoga was associated with an improvement in insomnia symptoms ( mean difference [ yoga − usual activity ] in the change in Insomnia Severity Index , 1.3 [ 95 % CI , −2.5 to −0.1 ] ; P = 0.007 ) . Conclusions Among healthy women , 12 weeks of yoga class plus home practice , compared with usual activity , do not improve VMS frequency or bother but reduce insomnia symptoms
Evidence was insufficient to show whether exercise is an effective treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
One small study suggested that HT is more effective than exercise .
Evidence was insufficient to show the relative effectiveness of exercise when compared with HT or yoga
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that many perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience menopausal symptoms ; hot flushes are the most common .
Symptoms caused by fluctuating levels of oestrogen may be alleviated by hormone therapy ( HT ) , but a marked global decline in its use has result ed from concerns about the risks and benefits of HT .
Consequently , many women are seeking alternatives .
As large numbers of women are choosing not to take HT , it is increasingly important to identify evidence -based lifestyle modifications that have the potential to reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
OBJECTIVES To examine the effectiveness of any type of exercise intervention in the management of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .