Celebrity quotes about redefining perimenopause and menopause

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Perimenopause and menopause may be completely normal processes for anyone born with a uterus, but they are often treated as no-nos. For generations, women have kept their menopausal experiences to themselves, usually out of a feeling that the topic was not meant for public discussion. And who can blame them, when a 1960s book (written by a doctor) linked menopause to shrunken breasts and a lot of sagging (via Good housekeeping)?

However, many of today’s most influential and outspoken female celebrities are breaking through this barrier and speaking out about the annoying, scary, and surprising symptoms of menopause. From hot flashes to heart palpitations, they are showing the world that no medical condition should be swept under the rug, especially one that will occur in nearly half the world’s population. (Did you know Menopause symptoms? You might be surprised at how many people are there.)

What words of wisdom are said about bringing “pause” into everyday chats, and who is saying them? Prepare to be amazed by the sassy, ​​thoughtful, and sometimes hilarious statements from your favorite stars and public figures.

If it’s been a while since you’ve thought about Halle Berry, you might be surprised to learn that the former Catwoman is in her late 50s. In other words, she’s deep in menopause territory, and in 2025, she spoke out about her belief in normalizing the shared experience of menopause. time Exclusive.

“If men went through this period of life in the same horrific way we do (with symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes), there would be a lot more answers and research and a lot more money raised to fund studies to help men live their best lives,” Berry said. “But because we are women, we suffer from sexism and ageism,” she added.

In general, perimenopause begins when a woman is in her 40s. However, it can start much earlier, as Naomi Watts discovered.

While Watts was in her 30s, she began to show distinct signs of perimenopause. Unfortunately, she had no one to turn to and had to figure out what was happening without professional guidance. As I remembered the people“My skin started to become irritable. I was having irritation, itching, and sensitivity in my skin…I was in this cycle of not knowing enough about my health and I just started googling and finding out for myself.”

To her credit, Watts did not remain silent. “I wrote a book”Dare I say it: everything I wish I knew about menopause“,” to help others avoid her experiences. (Even if you haven’t read her work, you still can You can tell if you are premenopausal by some key indicators.)

For Drew Barrymore, having her period every two weeks was her first sign of perimenopause, according to the CBS Mornings conversation (via YouTube). Unfortunately, her doctor told her that she might have to deal with reality for a decade. At the time, Barrymore said she thought: “I’m not going to be able to live for 10 years like this.”

Barrymore also noted during her interview that hot flashes were “well marketed,” but the marketing didn’t extend to the actual look and feel of perimenopause and menopause. “Most of it feels very unfamiliar and confusing, not just for men but for women as well,” Barrymore explained.

Jane Seymour is in her 70s and still a bombshell. She’s ready to talk about the wonders of life after menopause. Said Seymour during a Welcome! Interview: “I feel extraordinarily free at this moment.”

Seymour also admitted that menopause isn’t always easy on the body, but it just requires some new ways of thinking. “Sex becomes painful and then you just have to find ways to deal with that,” she explained. But it’s clear she’s keeping a positive attitude and hopes others do the same. “You can find a way that works for you or your partner in any way, and there are a lot of different ways to find joy in life. And to be a whole woman,” Seymour said.

Some actresses have turned to advocacy to amplify their beliefs about how menopause should be handled, including Cheryl Hines. “I want to help be a voice for these women, including my friends who live with it (painful sex), and help educate women, like me, who may suffer from this condition in the future,” she noted in a press release noting that she was joining a campaign for more discourse about uncomfortable intercourse (via Amaj Pharmaceuticals).

During one of themSticky substancepodcast, Gwyneth Paltrow wasn’t at a loss for words when a listener sent in a question about her feelings on menopause. “I really think menopause needs a good rebrand,” Paltrow replied. “I think we need to stop thinking of it as the end of one thing and more of the beginning of another chapter.”

Paltrow speaks from personal experience. As I explained in anotherSticky substance“Podcast, she suffered from anxiety and difficulty sleeping. But as she mentioned deerIt is normal and should be treated as each woman’s personal journey. “It’s completely normal for all of us to go through,” she said.

The idea of ​​turning menopause into a stigmatized topic doesn’t sit well with Kim Cattrall. In a Universality In the interview, she took a hard-hitting view of the condition: “I don’t think it’s shameful. It’s as natural as having a baby – it really is; it’s part of life.”

This isn’t the first time Cattrall has highlighted health. Cattrall received a Hashimoto’s diagnosis This early in her career, she has dealt with difficult symptoms before, further evidence of her practicality and optimism.

For eight years, Michelle Obama was the First Lady of the United States. What many people never knew was that she went through menopause while her husband was in office. On an episode of “The Michelle Obama Podcast,” she recalled a particularly memorable hot flash while traveling on Marine One. She said (trans The puppy). However, Obama was dismayed that her experience – which is not unusual – is not discussed more frequently. “There’s not a lot of talk about menopause,” she said. the peopleAdding that there was little information about him. (To his credit, her husband was supportive of women in the Oval Office going through menopause.)