Some women typically experience varying degrees of breast tenderness during part of the hormone therapy cycle. These women are encouraged to provide good breast support by wearing a well-constructed sports bra. For small to average sized breasts, a well-fitting bra that constricts movement of the breasts while exercising should reduce breast soreness. Restriction of breast movement, especially during aerobic exercising, will reduce exercise-associated breast soreness during these times. Ultimately, hormone therapy does not affect how a woman should exercise as much as it increases the importance of exercise.
Few studies assess if the reported changes in lean body mass affect physical fitness and strength.
Considering the reports of increased lipid profiles and reduced insulin sensitivity in women receiving hormone therapy, exercise may modulate these effects. Several studies have shown that exercise, both resistance training and aerobic, reduce many of the side effects previously mentioned. Since resistance training increase glucose transport and insulin sensitivity in muscle tissue, we could safely speculate that it might be employed to help prevent the increase in body fat that sometimes accompanies use of hormone therapy. As well, resistance training may have an additive effect on preserving bone mineral density, thereby reducing risk of osteoporosis in later life. Endurance training has been shown to lower lipid levels and reduce body weight in overweight women on hormone therapy compared to women who do not train at all.