Halle Berry Screams From Capitol Hill: ‘I’m Menopausal’ in an attempt to end the stigma and raise funds

WASHINGTON (AP) — Halle Berry is joining a gaggle of bipartisan senators to push for laws that might dedicate $275 million to research and education about menopause, a major hormonal change that middle-aged women undergo.

The laws calls on the federal government to spend extra money on clinical trials for menopause, in addition to hormone therapy to treat hot flashes and other symptoms.

On Thursday, Berry, 57, screamed outside the U.S. Capitol about menopause. She said it was a word her own doctor told her that he was afraid to say in her presence.

“I’m in menopause, OK?” Berry shouted, causing the crowd to chuckle. “Shame needs to be removed from menopause. We need to talk about this very normal part of our lives that is happening. Our doctors can’t even say a word to us, let alone guide us through the entire journey.”

In recent months, the top Hollywood actress has spoken candidly about the painful symptoms she experienced during perimenopause, which occurs before menopause when a lady’s estrogen levels begin to decline. The doctor initially misdiagnosed her with herpes, a sexually transmitted disease for which each Berry and her partner tested negative.

Under the proposal from Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, $125 million can be allocated for clinical, public health and medical research on menopause. The remaining money will help detect and diagnose menopause, train doctors in menopause treatment and raise public awareness about it.

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“Menopause is not a bad word, it is not something to be ashamed of and it is not something that Congress or the federal government should ignore,” Murray said.

The bill is supported by 17 senators – three Republicans, 13 Democrats, one independent and all women. Several senators said Thursday they hoped the bill would encourage doctors, women and men, to speak more openly about key health achievements experienced by all women.

In addition to Berry, other celebrities have began talking more about menopause on talk shows and interviews, and some have even began selling menopause-related products. Last yr, President Joe Biden launched a brand new initiative to improve the federal government’s research on women’s health, including menopause. Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, director of the National Institutes of Health, said too little is understood about women’s health in any respect stages of life. Her agency is the federal government’s leading medical research arm.

While the laws removed what is normally one in all Congress’s biggest hurdles – gaining bipartisan support – its prospects are uncertain. It’s difficult to get bills through Congress at any time, and the challenges at the moment are compounded by divisions on the Hill and the dwindling variety of days on the legislative calendar before the November election.

For funding for menopause research to change into a reality, the women’s group will need to gain the support of their colleagues. Congress is overwhelmingly represented by men.

Murkowski said she looks forward to the support from her colleagues. “If men went through menopause, we would have adequately and appropriately funded menopause research decades ago.”