Halle Berry’s Empowering Journey Through Menopause: Embracing Freedom and Confidence at Every Stage

Halle Berry is not just a talented actress; she’s also a trailblazer. She made history as the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. Despite her success, there was a time when she struggled to express herself. Like many women, she worried about how others perceived her, kept quiet, and avoided conflict. But now, she’s ready to speak her truth.

“I have no more f*cks to give about telling people how I feel,” Berry shared with Well+Good. This newfound confidence is empowering, especially for women who often feel silenced.

At 58, Berry attributes her change in mindset to embracing aging, particularly during her health journey. She didn’t realize she was in perimenopause until she was 54, when she was initially misdiagnosed. This experience was tough, pushing her to create Respin, a platform aimed at educating women about menopause and offering support.

Through this journey, Berry learned to advocate for herself, including in her intimate life. Sex became more meaningful for her and her partner. “Now, sex is like a five-course meal. It requires time, and it’s way better,” she explained. By communicating her needs, she has made her relationships more fulfilling.

Berry’s drive to understand her body in this new phase inspired her to help other women. She believes that knowledge about menopause is essential, not only for personal health but for shared support among women. She highlights the importance of women sharing their experiences, stating, “You’d be surprised how much you learn by just talking with other women.”

To further her goals, Berry started working with a menopause coach, inspired by her experiences with fitness trainers. “Wouldn’t it be great if I had a coach to help me understand this time of life?” she thought. This approach helps her stay strong and mentally sharp—especially since she had children later in life and wants to be active for them and her future grandchildren.

This past February, Berry expanded Respin to include a subscription service offering expert guidance and group discussions with a menopause coach. Berry sometimes participates in these sessions, finding value in expert advice and personal accountability to maintain her health.

In her Respin group, women connect and share their experiences in a safe, private environment. “We figure out how to help ourselves,” she emphasizes. Alongside this, her coach provides personalized answers and support, helping her navigate the complexities of menopause. Berry learned that dietary choices, like a no-carb diet, might not be best for muscle building at her age. She was also surprised to discover that Black women often experience menopause symptoms more severely, a crucial piece of information she had not considered before.

Berry is not just focusing on her own journey; she’s become an advocate for women’s health. She even visited Congress to support increased funding for menopause research. “If we are going to destigmatize menopause, we need to start talking,” she notes. Many women have faced this phase in silence, and Berry is determined to change that narrative.

Reflecting on her life, Berry wishes she could tell her younger self that aging is not something to fear. She recently revisited a milestone by wearing the same gown she famously donned when she won her Oscar. It brought back memories of the pressure she felt at that age. “I wish I’d known that life would just get better and better,” she mused.

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