WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Halle Berry is known for her unapologetic honesty, and she’s proving once again that she’s not afraid to talk about the real challenges of aging—even the ones most people shy away from. The 58-year-old Oscar-winning actress recently opened up about her experience with perimenopause during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, sharing how it completely changed her sex life with boyfriend Van Hunt. And at first? She thought she had herpes. Berry recalled how she met Van Hunt in 2020, and their relationship started off hot and passionate. She described it as an exciting, deeply connected romance—until, suddenly, something felt off. At 54 years old, she woke up one morning and felt excruciating pain when trying to use the bathroom. “I couldn’t go. It was so painful,” she shared. “It took me almost 10 minutes just to empty my bladder.” And then, she noticed something strange—her body didn’t feel normal. Panicked, she rushed to the doctor, with Hunt by her side, only to receive a shocking diagnosis. The doctor took one look and said, “Yep… I think I know what this is. It’s a really bad case of herpes.” Hearing the word “herpes” instantly turned Berry’s world upside down. She and Hunt spent three days questioning everything, each wondering how this could have happened. They went through the blame game, trying to make sense of the diagnosis, until Berry’s doctor finally called back with a correction. “You do not have herpes,” he told her. While that should have been a relief, it only left her more confused. If it wasn’t an STD, then what was happening to her body? With no clear answers from her doctor, Berry took matters into her own hands and began researching. She eventually diagnosed herself with “Dry Vagina Syndrome”, a common symptom of perimenopause—the transitional phase before menopause that affects hormone levels and can lead to mood changes, night sweats, and extreme vaginal dryness. The revelation was both eye-opening and frustrating. Like many women, Berry had no idea what was happening to her body because no one had talked about it. And in her case, the vaginal dryness had gotten so severe that sex with Hunt became unbearable. “We struggled with finding a way to have sex again,” she admitted. “Getting rid of the dryness, making it more enjoyable… because it got pretty rough for a minute.” Once Berry understood what was happening, she found ways to ease her discomfort—but she was also left with a bigger mission. She realized that so many women go through perimenopause completely unprepared, simply because the topic is not openly discussed. That’s why she created Respin, an online community and wellness platform aimed at educating and supporting middle-aged women through the physical and emotional changes of aging. She also recently testified in Congress, advocating for a bill to increase medical research and clinical trials focused on women’s midlife health. “There was something really missing in the market for women in midlife,” she told Time magazine. “It’s a community for women to talk to each other and learn from each other.” The platform also includes health coaching, nutritionists, and experts to help women understand how hormone shifts impact the brain, heart, bones, and entire body. Berry hopes that by sharing her story—even the uncomfortable parts—she can help remove the stigma around menopause and aging. She wants women to be informed, empowered, and unashamed of the natural changes their bodies go through. And if her story proves anything, it’s that midlife doesn’t have to mean the end of pleasure, confidence, or fulfillment—it’s just about understanding your body and adapting to the changes. With Berry leading the charge, maybe menopause won’t be such a mystery for the next generation of women. 
From “Best Time Ever” to “Razor Blades”
The Misdiagnosis That Led to a Relationship Crisis
The Real Culprit: Perimenopause and Vaginal Dryness
Breaking the Silence on Menopause and Aging
Halle Berry’s Message: Normalize the Conversation
Halle Berry, 55, Talks Menopause: It Feels Like I Have H*rp*s!!
