Association of Physical Activity with Reproductive Hormones: The Penn Ovarian Aging Study

Background: Physical activity is associated with re-duced risk for breast cancer, perhaps through reduc-tions in circulating reproductive hormones (estrogens and androgens). There may also be a role for physical activity in regulating menopausal symptoms. Few studies have examined associations of physical activity on hormone levels. None have examined the potential effect of the menopausal transition on the associations between physical activity and reproductive hormone levels. Materials and Methods: Data from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study were used for this analysis. Self-reported physical activity was assessed in 391 women up to four times over 10 years and extending across the meno