Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry has shared a personal health story that began with a surprising misdiagnosis, highlighting the challenges women face during midlife hormonal changes. At 59, Berry revealed that doctors initially thought her symptoms were caused by a sexually transmitted infection, only to later discover they were related to perimenopause—the transitional stage leading up to menopause.
Berry experienced severe discomfort early in her relationship with musician Van Hunt, including pain during intimacy, urinary irritation, and swelling that made daily activities difficult. She recalled on The Drew Barrymore Show that even simple tasks, like using the bathroom, became painful, with each visit taking nearly ten minutes.
After an initial diagnosis of herpes was overturned, doctors identified fluctuating hormone levels as the real cause. Berry explained that vaginal dryness and tissue changes, common in perimenopause, were responsible for her discomfort—a stage of life she had not been prepared for by her healthcare providers.
Determined to turn her experience into awareness, Berry has advocated for better education around menopause, hormonal health, and midlife wellness. In March 2024, she appeared with Jill Biden at A Day of Unreasonable Conversation in Los Angeles to discuss gaps in women’s health education.
“Many women feel confused or unsupported when symptoms begin,” Berry said. “This is something every woman eventually experiences. There shouldn’t be any shame in talking about it.”
Her candid discussion has sparked broader conversations about perimenopause, helping normalize an often-misunderstood stage of life and encouraging women to seek proper medical guidance.
