Halle Berry has never been one to shy away from an inconvenient truth. Speaking on CBS This Morning, she talked about the moment she realized she was perimenopausal — not by guidance or preparation, but by a misdiagnosis that terrified her before anyone thought to check her hormones.
“First of all, I found out that I was in the worst stage of menopause. Instead of menopause symptoms, I was diagnosed with herpes. And it made me think: if I have this little information, I wonder what millions of other women don’t have.”
Halle Berry went to her gynecologist after experiencing severe pain and vaginal dryness during intercourse. Surprisingly, Berry said, the gynecologist thought her symptoms were similar to herpes, a sexually transmitted infection. The gynecologist said she had the worst case of herpes they had ever seen.
Later, the doctor called again and said that the diagnosis was wrong. The real culprit was vaginal dryness, a common symptom of perimenopause, something Berry didn’t know she was experiencing.
“If I have this little knowledge,” she said, “I wonder what millions of other women don’t.”
The answer to this question is: very much.
The medical world was never designed to identify perimenopause symptoms
Unfortunately, Halle Berry’s misdiagnosis is not an anomaly. In a national survey of more than 1,000 US women in 2025, 39% of participants reported that when seeking care perimenopause symptoms. This exposes a healthcare system that repeatedly treats mental health conditions as separate issues, without addressing the underlying hormonal changes that women experience.
The study found that seven out of eight identified conditions may be due to perimenopause or menopause rather than clinical depression.
Additionally, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, fatigue, lack of concentration, and mood swings are common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
Shockingly, in 2020, researchers discovered that funding agencies allocated only 5% of global research and development funding to women’s health, and only 1% to all non-cancer women’s conditions, including menopause.
What did Halli Berry do?
SPC James Gordon, USA, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Instead of retreating from the experience, Berry transformed it. This misdiagnosis became the catalyst for Respin Health, a women’s health platform and a very public commitment to breaking the silence surrounding menopause.
“I’m questioning everything I know about menopause. It’s like your life is over. You’re disposable. Society doesn’t have a place for you anymore. You have to retire. You have to pack it in. I defy all those stereotypes.”
Halle Berry believes that only women can strive to eliminate the stigma of menopause. Bravely, Halle Berry argued that it starts with the kinds of conversations we have. By talking about it with our husbands, partners, brothers and colleagues, we can normalize it and allow them to talk about it.
What happens when we don’t address menopause symptoms?
Currently, women make up approximately 70-80% of the global health workforce, and more than half of these workers are aged 45 and over. However, while women form our foundation health care in the system, only a part of them occupy management positions. Therefore, women’s health, particularly menopausal health, is not properly prioritized as a global health issue.
Societal stigma and ignorance surrounding menopause marginalize menopausal women. A lack of understanding by society and employers in general about the complex emotional and psychological changes women experience during perimenopause and menopause perpetuates harmful stereotypes. This can lead to low self-esteem, workplace discrimination and career stagnation, and even early resignation. Despite these challenges, Halle Berry’s outlook is positive during her menstrual journey.
“I’m all about who I am, what I have to say, and what I have to say. At the end of the day, I realize that it’s valuable, even if nobody else agrees — it’s my point of view. And I’m entitled to have it, so, you know, that’s what I’m saying. Wherever you are, own it. I’m right there.”
Lack of menopause-related symptoms, such as cognitive fog and emotional instability, can affect women in all areas of their lives: physically, emotionally, socially, and economically.
Why is Halle Berry’s misdiagnosis important?
It’s part of what makes an actress Halle Berry The misdiagnosis is so significant that she and her doctor could have avoided it—if they had considered menopause from the start. Doctors often indicate a wide range of symptoms that indicate the transition of perimenopause to other conditions. These include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, low mood and anxiety, brain fog and difficulty concentrating, dry stools, increased urinary tract infections, joint pain, and skin and hair changes.
Halle Berry encourages women to dig deeper into their diagnosis and accept where they are in life. She said that women should really take the time to understand themselves. Moreover, it should not be a rushed or forced process, because it is not a race. Everyone has their own journey.
How to protect against misdiagnosis
- Appropriate and comprehensive menopause education should be included in the curriculum for all health care providers.
- Women can learn to recognize the symptoms themselves. Keeping a symptom diary can help identify irregular periods, poor sleep, low mood, and brain fog. A written record makes it harder for a doctor to deny the experience.
- Talk about it. The less whispers about menstruation, the less likely another woman will sit in the doctor’s office and be misdiagnosed.
- Look for reliable information. Platforms like Halle Berry’s Health Respin and Longevity LIVE provide access to clear information.
