She represented Varsinais-Suomi in the Parliament of Finland from 1991 to 2007 as a member of the National Coalition Party.

[1][3] Perho attended the University of Turku, receiving a master's degree in social sciences in 1974.

[2] As minister, she worked on proposals to reform the national pension system and Kela, the social security agency.

[6] After leaving Parliament, she continued working in health policy organisations and has held leadership roles in various arts and theatre groups.

[9] Perho married Markku Lehtinen, a Turku city official, in 1997.