Halle Berry joined a bipartisan group of senators at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to push legislation that would allocate $275 million to menopause research and education.
The 57-year-old actress proudly declared that she was in menopause, the main hormonal change experienced by middle-aged women that marks the end of their menstrual cycles.
‘I’m in menopause, okay?’ -Berry announced-. ‘We must eliminate the shame of menopause. We have to talk about this very normal part of our lives that happens.
“Our doctors can’t even say the word to us, let alone guide us along the way.”
The bipartisan Senate bill, known as the Advancing Menopause Care and Midlife Women’s Health Act, calls on the federal government to increase funding for hormone therapy, which is used to treat hot flashes. and other symptoms, as well as clinical trials related to menopause.
Oscar-winning actress and women’s health activist Halle Berry joins senators as they introduce new legislation to boost federal menopause research, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Thursday.
The 57-year-old actress proudly declared that she was in menopause, the main hormonal change experienced by middle-aged women that signals the end of their menstrual cycles.
The bipartisan Senate bill, the Advancing Menopause Care and Midlife Women’s Health Act, would create public health efforts to improve the health of midlife women.
After receiving a false diagnosis of herpes, Berry discovered the truth about her painful symptoms: She was experiencing perimenopause, or the beginning stages of menopause when estrogen levels begin to decline dramatically.
The proposal would set aside $125 million for clinical trials, public health and medical research on menopause.
Leftover funds would be used to support menopause diagnosis, screening, treatment and awareness.
“Menopause is not a dirty word, it is not something to be ashamed of, and it is not something that Congress or the federal government should ignore,” Murray said.
Seventeen senators (three Republicans, 13 Democrats and one independent) expressed support for the bill.
On Thursday, more senators expressed hope that the bill will make starting the conversation about menopause easier and less taboo.
Berry is one of many middle-aged female celebrities who have opened up about their menopausal journey.
Drew Barrymore has invested in Evernow, a menopause telemedicine company. Wile, a company that sells supplements, was founded by Judy Greer. Stripes, founded by Naomi Watts, offers menopause products, AP News reported.
Last year, President Joe Biden announced a new program to help improve federal research on women’s health, particularly menopause.
National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli said not enough research has been done on women’s health, especially older women.
Berry (right) discovered she was experiencing perimenopause, or the beginning stages of menopause when estrogen levels begin to decline dramatically.
Berry (pictured) is one of many middle-aged female celebrities who have been candid about their menopausal journey.
Before finding out she was experiencing perimenopause, Berry was falsely diagnosed with herpes.
While the legislation garnered rare bipartisan support, the future of the bill is uncertain given the country’s polarizing political climate and the presidential election around the corner.
Although Congress is notoriously dominated by men, Murkowski said she hoped to win their support, as their fiscal support is critical to funding research.
“If men had gone through menopause, we would have adequately and appropriately funded menopause research decades and decades ago,” Murkowski said.