Halle Berry has recently revealed how a terrible misdiagnosis led to her using her platform to raise awareness about women's health.
In a new interview during Propper Daley's fourth 'A Day of Unreasonable Conversation' summit with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the 57-year-old actress discussed the lack of education surrounding women's issues, especially when it comes to menopause.
For a lot of women in their 40s and 50s, menopause marks the end of their menstrual cycles. Other physical and emotional symptoms may also present themselves including hot flashes, night sweats, irregular moods, extremely dry skin, and hair loss.
(And although it usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, it can happen earlier or later.)
While it's a natural occurrence that affects billions of us, it still seems to be a taboo subject within many communities, which leaves individuals enduring the struggle alone.
Berry - who was experiencing perimenopause, which is the period just before menopause kicks in, - is helping to raise more awareness about the issue after her doctor misdiagnosed her with "the worst case of herpes" he'd ever seen, rather than what it actually was.
"First of all, my ego told me that I was going to skip [perimenopause]," she said during the interview with Biden as per PEOPLE. "I'm in great shape. I'm healthy. I managed to get myself off of insulin and manage my diabetes since [I was] 20 years old. So that makes one think, oh, I can handle menopause. I'm going to skip that whole thing."
The star admitted that she was "uneducated about it at that time" before recalling an incident that happened while being intimate with the "lover of [her] life", Van Hunt.
"I feel like I have razor blades in my vagina," she said, adding that she doesn't mind sharing her story in the hopes that it will help other women. "I run to my gynecologist and I say, 'Oh my God, what's happening?' It was terrible."
Berry then recalled what the doctor said to her: "He said, 'You have the worst case of herpes I've ever seen.' I'm like, 'Herpes? I don't have herpes!'"
Naturally, the actress approached her man and they went to get tested.
However, when the results came back negative for the sexually transmitted disease, Berry was forced to seek answers.
"I realize after the fact, that is a symptom of perimenopause," she said, noting that vaginal dryness is a symptom of the transitional period.
"My doctor had no knowledge and didn't prepare me. 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.'"
Now with menopause in full swing, Berry is trying to challenge the stereotypes around the issue, as well as raise more awareness so that women are better prepared for that stage in their lives.
If you're looking for more information about the issue, please seek help and guidance from your healthcare provider or click here to access further information.
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