Background: Menopause is defined as a phase in a woman's life where she has cessation of menses. Declining levels of hormones may cause adverse psychological and social changes. There are alterations in several hormones, with one of the primary ones affected being the neurohormone oxytocin. Decreased oxytocin levels may have significant effects on social, emotional, and physiological wellness.  Behavior has been implicated to be reduced in this menopausal phase.  However, it is known that Although oxytocin decline is related to the decrease in estrogen level, it can be stimulated to be released with specific activities like hugging or cuddling and, in addition there are reports that dance also promotes oxytocin release.
Hypothesis: Data suggests that dance as an exercise indirectly helps in release of oxytocin which thereby promotes social and mental wellbeing especially after menopause, along with cardiovascular benefits. These data promote the concept that dance should be a part of most postmenopausal women’s daily activities.

Methods: A Pub med and Google search was done with keyword’s “menopause,” “oxytocin,” “dance.”

Ryan Kanungo is an intern at the Women’s Health Institute at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School  since 2023. He is completing his Bachelors in Neuroscience in 2026 at NSU, Florida. He plans to pursue a career path in neuropsychiatry and public health.