Halle Berry's menopause misdiagnosis ignites health revolution

HEALTH is a deeply personal experience impacted by a variety of biological processes that women face throughout their lives.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

However, although milestones such as first steps and puberty are frequently regarded as simple, the path to menopause is plagued with unanticipated twists, particularly during perimenopause.

This critical shift, characterised by changing hormone levels, is rarely defined in the precise terms required, resulting in a troubling difference in how women’s health issues are recognised and treated.

While misdiagnosis can affect anyone, research shows that women are disproportionately impacted. This disparity raises urgent questions about the underlying causes: Are we witnessing the effects of medical gaslighting, a lack of research in sex and gender medicine, and a society still grappling with outdated views of women’s health?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has acknowledged the global gap in women’s health education and research. In a recent health equity report, the WHO stated that “gender biases in medical research and clinical training contribute directly to misdiagnosis and under-treatment in women.”

Perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause, where hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, fluctuate wildly. It typically begins in a woman’s 40s but can start as early as her mid-30s.

Symptoms can include:

Hot flashes.

Fatigue.

Brain fog.

Irregular periods.

Anxiety.

Joint pain.

However, because these symptoms can mimic other conditions, doctors often misattribute them to unrelated illnesses.