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Cross-sectional studies
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Aydin et al. 2014 [34]
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1071 Islamicpostmenopausalwomen (of 1328 women that expressed interest) who attended an outpatient clinic from 2005–12
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Questionnaire included an item on regular exercise, defined as 30-min for ≥2 times per week (yes/no)
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Validated questionnaire assessing genitourinary symptoms, including presence or absence of vaginal dryness
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Socio-demographics, health behaviors, anthropometrics, length of menopausal status (months)
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The prevalence of vaginal dryness was higher in participants reporting regular exercise
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x
| | |
|
Tan et al. 2014 [33]
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305 Turkish (District of Izmir) menopausal women who went to their primary care physician between August and October 2009
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International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-short version. Women were classified as: low, moderate, or high active
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Turkish version of the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), which includes 11 items assessing assess somato-vegetative, psychological and urogenital symptoms; scores range from ‘not present’ to ‘very severe’
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Socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, anthropometrics
|
High active women had a lower prevalence of vaginal dryness symptoms than low and moderate active women
| | |
x
| |
|
Prospective cohort studies
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|
de Azevedo Guimaraes et al. 2011 [45]
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120 Brazilianwomen aged45–59 years oldvolunteered for the 12-week study(recruited throughwork or other institutions)
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Habitual PA was assessed through the short form of the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ); Participants were classified as: maintained <30 min/day, maintained or increased to 30–60 min/day, or maintained or increased to >60 min/day
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Vaginal dryness was assessed using the Kupperman Menopausal Index
|
Socio-demographic factors, anthropometrics, menopausal status and symptoms, and QOL
|
There was no difference in reported vaginal dryness by activity group
|
x
| | | |
|
104 women completed the 12-week study
|
|
Non-randomized intervention studies
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|
Karacan, 2010 [50]a
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112 women aged 46–55. The analytic sample included 65 participants that regularly participated in the 3- and 6-month exercise program
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The 6-month exercise program included aerobic activity (75–80 % heart rate capacity) with calisthenics for 3 days a week for 55 min each session
|
The menopause rating scale (MRS) was composed of 11 items assessing menopausal symptoms divided into three groups: psychological, somatic-vegetative and urogenital
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Physical characteristics (height, weight, and age at menopause), resting heart rate and blood pressure, lower back flexibility, hand grip strength, and body composition (skin folds)
|
There was no pre- to post- exercise program difference in vaginal dryness
|
x
| | | |
|
Randomized controlled trials
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|
Moilanen et al. 2012 [53]a
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176 Finnish white women were recruited for the study by newspaper advertisements. The analytic sample included 154 inactive participants were randomly assigned to the exercise (n = 74) or control group (n = 77) that completed the 6-month study protocol
|
Exercise Group: Unsupervised aerobic training intervention; 4 × per week at 64–80 % maximal heart rate for 50 min each time
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The presence of vaginal dryness were collected 2 × per day using a mobile phone- administered questionnaire
|
Socio-demographic factors, anthropometrics, and menopausal symptoms
|
The prevalence of vaginal dryness decreased pre- to post- intervention
| | |
x
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