Halle Berry shares her mission to rebrand menopause | HLTH 2024

Las Vegas - Even in a career that has spanned more than three decades and scores of ambitious roles, Halle Berry said it took some effort to talk about menopause.

Halle Berry talked about the need for more knowledge, discussion and federal funding for menopause at the HLTH conference Monday.

But the Oscar-winning actor said as she talked to others about the difficulties of dealing with brain fog and some of the other challenges, she found comfort and relief.

“When I started to do that, I felt less alone,” she said.

Now, Berry says she wants to help other women as they confront menopause. Speaking at the HLTH conference Monday, the global icon spoke to thousands about the need for more discussion and more awareness about menopause.

“We need more money, we need more dollars, we need more research, we need more clinical trials,” Berry said.

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Berry has backed a bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., that would direct more money for menopause research and to help train clinicians in caring for women.

The bill, dubbed The Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act, would direct $275 million over five years for menopause studies and care. Berry said the bill has secured the backing of 17 of the Senate’s 25 members, and the measure has Democratic and Republican sponsors.

“People have not believed that menopause is even a thing,” Berry said, adding, “We’ve been told as women, that’s what happens when you get older.”

Even though all women will experience menopause, as Berry said there’s a glaring lack of knowledge about a physiological issue that affects half the population.

“What we know is pretty much nothing,” she said.

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Berry explained much of her motivation to be an advocate for women in menopause stemmed from her own misdiagnosis. She said she was initially diagnosed with herpes, but later discovered that she was suffering from vaginal dryness, a symptom of perimenopause.

“That got me ignited to figure out how I could have avoided this,” Berry said.

Now, she said talking about menopause is “hands down my favorite topic.”

Berry has created a women’s wellness platform, Respin, which has been revamped to focus on menopause. As Berry said, “Menopause needed a rebrand.”

Berry said Respin is designed with a goal of helping women find what they’re missing.

“We’re missing community, content, commerce and care,” Berry said.

The site will allow women to connect with others to share their own experiences and offer health coaches to help women navigate the challenges of menopause.

“We need to be able to talk to other women,” Berry said.

She’s also selling products for women, starting with an intimacy gel and a device designed to improve vaginal health. Berry said she’s looking at other products but Respin’s community members will help determine other offerings.

“We won’t just sell random products,” Berry said.

Liz Baker Plosser, editor-in-chief of Women’s Health, moderated the conversation with Berry. She said that for too long, women were reluctant to have candid discussions about menopause, but she sees a change.

“I have noticed a shift in the last year or so for how hungry women are … to read, to engage, to talk about this,” Plosser said.

Berry relished the support and comfort she has received from other women. She also wants women to understand that menopause shouldn’t prevent women from living a rich, full life, especially since women will live for decades after entering menopause.

“If you make it to mid-life, it can be a really beautiful time,” Berry said.

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