Perimenopause is the period in which one’s body begins making the transition to menopause. As it comes with many changes and symptoms, it can sometimes be hard to identify perimenopause, and no one knows this better than Halle Berry, as the Oscar-winner was misdiagnosed with herpes, instead of perimenopause.
Halle Berry: Misdiagnosed With Herpes Instead of Perimenopause
Speaking on her experience during a conversation with First Lady Jill Biden at Propper Daley’s fourth “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation” summit, the 57-year-old actress opened up about how she believed that she was going to “skip” menopause,
“First of all, my ego told me that I was going to skip [perimenopause],” she shared,
“I’m in great shape. I’m healthy. I managed to get myself off of insulin and manage my diabetes since I’m 20 years old. So that makes one think, oh, I can handle menopause.”
Admittedly, Berry reveals that she was uneducated about it at the time, and the reality of this appeared most bizarrely.
At 54, Berry formed a relationship with musician Van Hunt. Describing him as the “man of [her] dreams.”
Berry shared that, not long after they got together, she began to experience excruciating pain – described as “razor blades in her vagina”- after sex. Being responsible, she immediately consulted her doctor, who told her that she had the worst case of herpes he’d ever seen.
Shocked, the NAACP Image Award winner confronted Hunt, and the two were tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). After they both tested negative, Berry did her research and discovered that the post-intercourse wasn’t because of an STI, but was due to vaginal dryness.
“My doctor had no knowledge and didn’t prepare me,” Berry explained.
“That’s when I knew, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve got to use my platform. I have to use all of who I am, and I have to start making a change and a difference for other women.’”
Let’s talk about perimenopause
Perimenopause, also referred to as menopausal transition, can start as early as the mid-30s, but is more likely to occur sometime in your 40s. According to the May Clinic, during this period, the body begins to produce less estrogen, menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, and the ovaries release eggs (ovulates) less regularly.
You may also experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep problems and vaginal dryness. Treatments are available to help ease these symptoms.
Aside from the vaginal dryness experienced by Halle Berry, Johns Hopkins has identified the following symptoms associated with perimenopause:
- Irregular periods
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia/Trouble sleeping
- Night sweats
- Headaches
- Poor concentration
- Changes in libido
- Joint and muscle aches
- Needing to pee often
- PMS-like symptoms
The perimenopause period ends once you’ve gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, which means that you’ve officially reached menopause.
Managing symptoms
While you can’t necessarily treat perimenopause or menopause, there are lifestyle habits that can help you manage symptoms should they become bothersome. These include:
- Vaginal lubricants: Vaginal dryness is the most common symptom of perimenopause. To ease any discomfort and maintain a healthy sex life, it would be advisable to use water-based lubricants.
- Stay active: Perimenopause can affect metabolism, increasing your risk of weight gain, and it can also affect your mood. Leading an active lifestyle can help to keep off the perimenopausal weight, and improve your mood.
- Eat healthily: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can keep your bones and heart healthy – both of which become more vulnerable the older you get.
- Adopt stress-reduction therapies: Perimenopause comes with many changes, and this can become stressful, for both your interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics. As such, it’s advisable to adopt stress-relief techniques like yoga, meditation, journaling and talk therapy.
- Use supplements: Supplements can help manage menopausal symptoms, some of which include black cohosh, flaxseed, and red clover. That said, the FDA does not regulate supplements, so it’s essential to take precautions when looking to buy supplements.
Want to know more?
While it may have come as a shock to Halle Berry, menopausal women need to understand that changes to their sex lives are completely normal and that there exist a few ways for them to address the issue.
Here’s a guide to how menopausal women can maintain a healthy sex life.
