Halle Berry is opening up about a painful condition that affects nearly half of perimenopausal and menopausal women.
“I was 54 years old and plummeted into perimenopause,” Berry told the Healthy. “I had [what felt like] razor blades in my vagina.”
“I didn’t know what the heck was happening, and I quickly got told that it was vaginal dryness, which is a big side effect of perimenopause. I didn’t know what to do about it.”
As many as 90% of menopausal women don’t seek help for the vaginal dryness, urinary tract irritation and pain during sex that are caused by a condition called GSM, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause. A drop in estrogen makes tissue thinner, drier and less flexible, which can cause small tears during intercourse. GSM can also cause more frequent and painful urination.
The good news is that this condition is highly treatable. Berry encourages women to “find their courage” and talk to their doctor about it. Here’s what to know.
‘Our health is worth it’
The “Catwoman” star, who turns 60 in August, went to the doctor for help with her pain. She was given a shockingly incorrect diagnosis.
“I was horrified to be told I had herpes just to realize that it wasn’t herpes at all. It was vaginal dryness. That’s a normal part of perimenopause,” Berry said. “But to go through all of that, and to have my doctor so confidently tell me it was [herpes] even before the test came back,” pushed Berry to action.
Both herpes and vaginal dryness can present as burning, itching and painful intercourse. GSM also gets misdiagnosed as a UTI, bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection.
“The test came back and it wasn’t herpes. I said to him, ‘If it’s not herpes, what is it?’ He kind of said he didn’t know, and that’s the moment my brain clicked. ‘I don’t know’ is not the answer I wanted and not the answer I deserve,” she said.
The “X-Men” actress, who got engaged to musician Van Hunt last year, encourages women to seek another doctor if they don’t get answers the first time.
“Our health is worth it, and we cannot be embarrassed anymore about these conversations,” she said. “We are better than what we’re getting.”
Treatment is readily available
There are a number of options for vaginal dryness.
Over-the-counter vaginal moisturizers are the best option for chronic dryness. Moisturizers are absorbed into the skin and adhere to the surface of the vagina, which then retains moisture over time. They can be used a few times a week.
Berry recommends Juicy Like a Peach, a moisturizer she launched with sexual health company Joylux. The company says it’s the first vaginal gel in the country powered by HPMC-5, a cellulose gel used in a number of personal care products that provides a creamy, smooth texture that helps retain moisture.
“What HPMC-5 does is it creates a moisture veil inside of your vagina. Think of it like a moisturizer that you put on your face every day — it’s like a moisturizer for your vagina,” Berry explained. “Over time, your vagina will become very moist, and you’ll get back your spontaneity with sex.”
Lubricants should also be used during sex, but they differ in that they act quickly and their effects are temporary.
You might find hyaluronic acid as an ingredient in lubricants and moisturizers, which is really helpful for retaining moisture. This ingredient is also generally well tolerated.
Berry also found that red light therapy helped her. Research does suggest this therapy holds some promise. She also worked with Joylux to release Let’s Spin, an aloe vera-based lubricant.
With a prescription, vaginal estrogen has been the standard treatment for decades. While it is effective, there are some limitations on who can use it, and it can get expensive.
Authors of a review on GSM treatments caution that all of them address symptoms only, as opposed to reversing the underlying effects of menopause. “GSM is a progressive and chronic condition, and without the replacement of sex steroids, long-term resolution is unlikely to occur.”
Women spend up to 40% of their lives in menopause, and pain isn’t something they have to just endure.
“We talk about penile dysfunction, right? They have Viagra commercials for the Super Bowl! Why can’t we, as women, talk about what our needs are? Our sexual health is just as important as [men’s],” Berry told the Healthy.
