Halle Berry’s Doctor Misdiagnosed Her With the ‘Worst Case of Herpes’ Due to Perimenopause Symptom

[hewontgo]

Halle Berry is opening up about experiencing a herpes scare that was actually a case of perimenopause. https://t.co/NASr8hXJUn
- Us Weekly (@usweekly) March 26, 2024

Halle Berry, 57, is opening up about experiencing a herpes scare that was actually a case of perimenopause.

"First of all, my ego told me that I was going to skip [perimenopause] - I

Comments

[aeromi]

i’ve read this multiple times and i still dont understand what she’s trying to say??? Its not unreasonable to check for std’s if you’re all of sudden experience pain with vaginal sex. And what doctor doesnt understand perimenopause?? We literally learn this first year of medical school and its on all our board exams. And yeah perimenopause/menopause can cause pain with vaginal sex due to decreased estrogen causing vaginal dryness. Sounds like she’s embellishing things for a story because nothing she said makes sense. You cant “cure diabetes” especially if you are type 1, you would literally be dead without insulin.

[hunnichild]

How recently did you go to med school and pass your boards? Older doctors may not have gotten the same depth of information regarding perimenopause as newer graduates. And sadly, I could see an older, established male gyno thinking he doesn't need to take any of the newer gyno CME courses. In CA, it's minimum 50 hours every two years and besides a one-time mandatory 12 hour pain management course, there are no they subject requirements. Nationally, I don't think the ACOG has any CME reqs.

[aeromi]

i finished med school 4 years ago, and passed all board and specialty boards. I worked with a lot of older obgyns as a med student and they seemed aware of this? I could understand if its complicated diagnosis with recent updated guidelines but ob/gyns have been prescribing vaginal estrogen for a very long time, its not something that is new

[anterrabre]

Unfortunately, there are doctors who automatically jump on the STD train without considering other explanations; even moreso if you're a WOC seeking treatment because there's this nasty assumption that we're all promiscuous. It's unfortunate, but it does happen. :(

[ishumy]

Three months ago or so I went to the gyno because I’ve been having extremely irregular periods these past two years, on top of worsening mood swings/PMS… She took a look at my hormone levels and straight up told me it was most likely that I have very little ovarian reserves, then told me I had few follicles when doing an ultrasound and went on to talk about hormone replacement treatments and whether there was history of early menopause in my family (there’s none, as far as I know).

I’m barely turning 30 this year. It felt like a bunch of information with no guidelines-she said “if go a year without your period, that means you’re in menopause.” What about symptoms? What about further testing, in depth analysis? I had to do my own research to make sense of what she told me. So many doctors drop the ball on our health and it makes you feel so confused and isolated.

[sweetwaterlane]

I'm sort of surprised she even did fertility hormone testing on you. Lots of women are dismissed when they report cycle issues to their gyn. I really wish basic hormonal testing for ovarian reserve etc was part of lab work included in women's annual exams.

If you haven't yet as part of your own research, you might be interested in seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist, as they may provide more in depth analysis of your ovarian function, although what your doctor did was pretty similar in that she tested your blood and counted your follicles, though probably more rudimentary and not as knowledgeable.

[adb7]

I need science to figure out a way for people to skip all this stuff in the next 10-20 years plz.

[pa0r_ple]

I wish this was discussed more. I'm 37 and got my period earlier than most people so I kind of just assume I already have it tbh

[richyrich909]

The amount of misdiagnosis that women receive, especially women of color is insane.

[anterrabre]

THIS.