Menopause is a journey specific to each woman, which often has its share of shocks. In recent years, more and more celebrities have come forward and shared their stories, like Naomi Watts who recently opened up about her early menopause which occurred at the age of 36. In turn, Halle Berry decided to talk about her perimenopause, i.e. the transition period which precedes the definitive end of the rules. This pivotal stage generally lasts two to four years, and is often accompanied by multiple symptoms due to the hormonal upheaval going through the body.
It was while attending the A Day of Unreasonable Conversation event, an annual meeting that brings together members of the artistic community and government leaders, that Halle Berry spoke about her perimenopause. On the occasion of this summit, the 57-year-old actress spoke with the American First Lady, Jill Biden, about women’s health, the way in which older women are represented and more precisely menopause. On stage, Halle Berry returned to her personal story and explained that she was far from thinking that her body was entering menopause when it happened. “At first, my ego made me believe that I wasn’t going to have to go through perimenopause. I am in good shape. I am healthy“, she confided, admitting that she was “little informed on the subject at the time“.
Halle Berry hopes to raise awareness about menopause
Halle Berry continued and explained that one day, after having sex with her companion, the musician Van Hunt, she suddenly felt intense painsimilar to “razor blades in [s]we vagina“. She then went to her gynecologist, who thought she had herpes. The couple went to get tested to find out if they were indeed suffering from genital herpes, but the diagnosis turned out to be negative. Halle Berry later learned that her pain was actually hiding a symptom of perimenopause: vaginal dryness. Following this episode, the former James Bond girl decided to share her story in the hope of “make a difference for other women“, she says.
In front of the public, Halle Berry wished “change the way women and men view women in their 50s” and the perceptions they have of menopause. For the actress, this word which was, until recently, taboo as a swear word, must be pronounced loud and clear: “We in this room must change that… It’s not a dark and unhappy story, it’s a glorious time in life.“In chorus with Jill Biden, Halle Berry ended by appealing to the leaders present to help”change the way the culture perceives women at this stage of their lives“. A call that echoes Joe Biden’s signing of an executive order summoning his administration to advance research on women’s health, three weeks earlier.
Sources:
- Halle Berry Recalls Her Doctor Saying She Had the ‘Worst Case of Herpes’ He’d Ever Seen — but It Was Perimenopause – People
- Halle Berry Details Herpes Scare That Was Actually Perimenopause in Conversation with First Lady Jill Biden – Hollywood Reporter