---
title: Does being physically active help with period pain and PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes, women with higher physical activity levels have significantly lower rates of period pain and PMS. Most studies were observational rather than experimenta
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/physical-activity-and-menstrual-health-symptoms-and-characteristics-a-systematic-2025/
---

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- Does being physically active help with period pain and PMS?

Systematic review, 2025

# Does being physically active help with period pain and PMS?

Yes, women with higher physical activity levels have significantly lower rates of period pain and PMS. Most studies were observational rather than experimental, so we cannot confirm that exercise causes these improvements.

 Moderate study design

101,413 women from 82 observational studies worldwide

## What they did

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 82 observational studies with 101,413 women, comparing menstrual symptoms in those with low versus medium-high physical activity.

## What they found

Lower physical activity was associated with higher odds of period pain (odds ratio 1.67, 21 studies), PMS (odds ratio 1.22, 18 studies), and cycle irregularity (odds ratio 1.73, 11 studies). Results for blood flow and cycle length were mixed.

## What it means for you

Exercise appears protective for period symptoms and is low-cost and accessible. However, most included studies were cross-sectional and relied on self-reported activity, which limits the strength of the evidence.

101413

Women in 82 studies

1.67

Fold higher odds of period pain with low activity

1.22

Fold higher odds of PMS with low activity

## About the study

Original title Physical Activity and Menstrual Health Symptoms and Characteristics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies Authors Buchanan-Smith LIM, Pang AH, Yeshitila NK et al. Journal Journal of women's health (2002) Year 2025 Study design Systematic review What was tested Physical activity levels (no/low versus medium/high) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/15409996251365804](https://doi.org/10.1177/15409996251365804)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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