Hollywood icon Halle Berry recently shared a personal and empowering story about a health scare that turned out to be a misunderstood symptom of perimenopause. In a candid conversation with first lady Dr. Jill Biden, during Propper Daley’s fourth “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation” summit on Monday, Berry recounted how a misdiagnosis led her to advocate for menopause awareness and empower women to embrace this natural phase of life.
Berry, known for her roles in films like Catwoman and Monster’s Ball, revealed that she initially believed she would bypass perimenopause due to her healthy lifestyle and management of diabetes. However, a surprising encounter with intense pain during intimacy with her partner, Van Hunt, led her to seek medical advice. Berry explained that the whole ordeal was around the time she met Hunt, who she described as “the man of my dreams.” Menopause was “not even a thought on my mind” at her age. “So we’re having our thing, we’re having sex and everything is great,” she said, later revealing that she experienced “extreme pain” during intimacy.
She went on to recall, “So one day, we’re having sex like normal,” she recalled. “I wake up in the morning, I go to the bathroom, and guess what? I feel like I have razor blades in my vagina.” After her physician mistakenly diagnosed her with the “worst case of herpes,” Berry and Hunt underwent testing, only to discover that they did not have the STD. It was later revealed that the discomfort Berry experienced was actually a symptom of perimenopause, a phase characterized by hormonal changes and irregular menstrual cycles.
“Neither one of us has herpes,” Berry noted. “I realized, after the fact, that [the sensation] is a symptom of perimenopause.”
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The lack of awareness about perimenopause among healthcare professionals prompted Berry to use her platform to educate others. She emphasized the importance of understanding and normalizing menopause, stating that it is a “glorious time of life” that should be embraced rather than stigmatized.
Berry’s journey from a herpes scare to perimenopause awareness exemplifies her commitment to empowering women and challenging societal perceptions of midlife and menopause. By sharing her story, she hopes to change the narrative surrounding menopause and encourage women to embrace this transformative phase with confidence and pride.