Woman's World

Halle Berry Talks Vaginal Dryness, Joylux and the Role She’d Reprise (Exclusive)

Julianne MacNeill — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:00:01 +0000

Halle Berry, 59, is all about breaking barriers, whether that’s in her career as an actress or when it comes to women’s healthcare. She also knows that women deserve to age as comfortably as men do, which is why the actress has partnered with Joylux, the women’s health platform and intimate wellness company. Together, Berry and Joylux are working to create non-invasive, hormone-free solutions for feminine care, menopause and sexual wellness.

Berry has been a proud partner of Joylux since 2024 in an effort to destigmatize the conversation around perimenopause and menopause. She has since become a leading voice for menopause awareness and women’s health advocacy, bringing visibility to conversations that have historically been overlooked. Now, the actress and advocate is supporting the launch of Joylux’s Juicy Like a Peach gel, which is an FDA-cleared vaginal dryness treatment that introduces proprietary HPMC-5 technology to women’s intimate health products in the U.S. for the first time.

Woman’s World got to chat with Berry about the new product, her partnership with Joylux and why she believes it’s time to start prioritizing women’s healthcare. Plus, the actress shared which of her famed roles she would love to bring back if she had the opportunity.

Woman’s World: You’ve partnered with Joylux to help launch their new product, Juicy Like a Peach. Can you tell me about it and why it’s an important innovation for women’s intimate health?

Joylux

Halle Berry: I really believe this is a game changer for women and our health and our vaginal health. I think this is something that women traditionally haven’t wanted to talk about, but all women will suffer in some way down their path of life with this issue of vaginal dryness. It’s a big part, for many women, of perimenopause and menopause, and this new product is revolutionary in the sense that this new technology has been discovered, the HPMC-5. It’s this molecule that helps create this moisture veil inside of the vagina, which over time makes your vagina juicy like a peach—that’s why it’s called that. It restores the moisture in your vagina so that you can take your intimacy back into your own hands and have the spontaneity you used to have.

To me, it’s a game changer because that’s one of the first things that, as a woman, when you can no longer feel that you’re a sexual being anymore, you start to lose confidence. Then you can get depressed, and then your relationships can fall apart and then there you are. My entry into perimenopause was vaginal dryness, and so partnering with Joylux just makes so much sense for me. This company has the vFit, which I first used, and then our first product, LET’S SPIN, our lubricant, and now this is our third product that’s just changed my life. I know that women are suffering and struggling, and I think Juicy Like a Peach will be exactly what they need. They should look at it just like their daily moisturizer we do on our face—this is the moisturizer for your vagina, and we have to start caring for that part of our body, just like we do every other part.

Woman’s World: As much as everyone wants to see innovation in women’s health, it can be scary or uncomfortable to try new things. How will Juicy Like a Peach fit into women’s midlife health routines, and why should they try it?

Halle Berry: What’s really good about Juicy is that, first of all, it’s FDA-approved. I think many women feel better when it’s been cleared and approved by the FDA. It is not hormonal, which is another plus for women who are feeling uncomfortable about hormones or who cannot take hormones. I think it’s very easy to use and it’s at a good price point [the full retail price is $59], so there’s no real reason that any woman should feel afraid to try this product. There’s absolutely zero downside, only something to gain, and I think every woman wants to feel juicy like a peach. That’s our sexual power, to be able and ready to have intimacy whenever we want. It’s going to give you that sense of having yourself back and your freedom back, which will also give your confidence back.

Woman’s World: There’s such a stigma around not just menopause, but every aspect of women’s health. Why do you feel like women should feel free to speak openly about their experiences, both with friends and medical professionals?

Halle Berry: I think as women we are waking up to ourselves and we’re realizing that we deserve better. We’re realizing that we’ve been operating on less than we deserved. As women, we’re often mothers or the caregivers and we’re sort of the last to be cared for. We think of ourselves last, and I think we’re starting to learn the “airplane theory”—when the mask comes down, take care of yourself first, then those around you—there’s a reason for that. We have to be our best selves so we can take care of our families, and I think we’re starting to realize and the younger generation is starting to realize that we matter as women. It’s okay to take care of ourselves, and I think by people talking about it, it’s helping other women talk about it.

Women have said to me in the last two or three years that I’ve been on this mission, ‘Thank you for talking about it, because it helps me talk about it. You’re talking about it with your partner, now I can talk about it with my husband. Thank you for setting that example.’ I think we’re realizing that nothing will change for us unless we start talking about it, unless we get loud, unless we demand that our doctors get retooled, that there’s more research and education in the space, so I’m excited.

Woman’s World: It’s so wonderful that you’ve taken such an interest in talking about it and sharing your experiences, because now other women know they’re not alone. And that’s part of what can be so scary, is that it feels like you’re alone in what you’re going through.

Halle Berry
Presley Ann / Stringer

Halle Berry: I want younger women to know, too, that this time of life is nothing to be afraid of. You don’t have to dread aging because we’re turning into a culture that wants to stay forever 35 and it’s just not possible. Men get to age and become silver foxes and they get sexier and debonair, but women somehow have to stay 35 because that’s where men want us to be. Well, I say no. We have a right to age like they do. We have a right to age gracefully. We have a right to have all the tools and products that are going to make that comfortable for us. We have the same rights that they do. That’s what I know.

Woman’s World: 100%. It’s great for the younger generation to hear voices like yours to say that it’s not scary, and you don’t need to be afraid and to hear someone of your stature speak about this openly.

Halle Berry: You just need to be educated. You need to have knowledge, become curious, just like with any other phase of life. When you’re looking at becoming a mother, we research that within an inch of our life to understand what pregnancy is, what childbirth is and then the same thing with raising our children. Start thinking about midlife when you’re in your 30s and what’s going to happen when you’re in your 40s and 50s. Start thinking about what that phase will be and set yourself up for success.

Woman’s World: What pushed you to want to become a leading voice for menopause awareness and women’s health advocacy, and what has it been like to bring visibility to those conversations?

Halle Berry: When I found out that I was in perimenopause, I was 54 years old and nobody had talked to me about it. None of my doctors even brought it up and I thought what a tragic disservice that was to me because I had been in perimenopause probably 10 years. Had I known better, I would have done better. I would have started taking different supplements a lot sooner if I knew what was waiting for me on the other side. I wish I did. So, I thought, ‘How can I use my voice to help empower other women so that they can start making better choices for themselves?’ Because I didn’t get a chance to do that. I wanted other women to and I want my daughter to. I want a new world for her. I want her to understand her body and understand the choices that she has.

We should be able to sail into those years. Women don’t have to bottom out like I did and find themselves in the dredges of hell like I did, with [the feeling of] razor blades in my vagina and my mouth so dry I can’t even open it in the morning, or about to lose my eyesight because my eyes are drying up. Not every woman has to arrive at that place. Knowledge is power, and you can start attacking these issues that you know are coming well before they become sort of tragic. You can be on top of it, and that’s what I wish for women.

Woman’s World: What made you decide to partner with Joylux?

Halle Berry: They lead with science and the products are FDA-approved. That’s really important for us to feel safe. So much is being put in the market today and we don’t know what we’re putting in our bodies because some of these products don’t have to have trials. I don’t want to be a guinea pig, that’s just not what I want to do. I like that they lead with science, they lead with clinical trials and they had the first product that helped me when I realized that I was in perimenopause. I was on a new path that gave me confidence in the company, that they were who they said they were and that their products actually worked. Since I started using the vFit, we teamed up and we created two new products that really were to help me, but I knew that by helping myself, we’d be helping millions of other women.

Woman’s World: Switching it up to your career for a moment: You’ve been in some incredible films and played iconic characters, but if you could go back and reprise any of your past roles, which character would you want to bring back?

Halle Berry in ‘Catwoman’ (2004)
Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

Halle Berry: Here’s the thing, this isn’t going to be a popular answer. People are gonna be like, ‘Are you crazy?’ But I would go back and do another version of Catwoman. I would do Catwoman 2.0 And I’ll tell you why. When the movie came out, it got unfairly panned. Was it the best movie you ever saw? No. Did Catwoman need a bigger foe to fight? Should the problem have been more significant than women’s faces cracking? Yes. So, it wasn’t perfect, but the younger generations have found this movie, and they love it. They get what we were trying to do. At the time, a woman had not had her own superhero movie, so it was trying to be a leader, trying to innovate and make a way out of no way. I wish I could go back and have a better story, a better writer, a different director and tell another version of that story, because for better or for worse, the young generation loves that movie. I would love to go back—I never will, but if I could—I would love to go back and do that.

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This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Menopause Symptoms No One Warns You About—From Losing Your Labia To Itchy Ears

Cailey Griffin — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:45:47 +0000

By now, most of us can recite the classic signs of menopause in our sleep—assuming we can sleep at all. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, brain fog, insomnia. All familiar territory. But this hormonal transition has a whole roster of quieter, weirder symptoms that almost nobody warns you about, and they can leave even the most prepared woman googling her own body at 3 a.m. If you’ve been blindsided by a strange new ache, itch or change “down there,” you’re not imagining things. Here are some of the surprising symptoms of menopause women say they never saw coming—plus what doctors recommend doing about each one.

7 unexpected symptoms of menopause

Between fluctuating hormone levels like estrogen and progesterone, it’s no wonder women experience so many surprising menopause systems. Here are some of ones no ever told you about:

Itchy ears that drive you up the wall

Yes, really. Ob-gyn Mary Claire Haver, MD, says itchy ears blow up the internet every time she talks about them, and the cause comes down to skin and nerves. As estrogen levels drop, the delicate skin inside the ear canal gets drier, thinner and less lubricated, while nerve endings become more reactive. The result: a maddening, deep itch you can’t reach.

The fix: Dr. Haver’s go-to hack? Spray a tiny bit of Flonase on a Q-tip and gently apply it inside the canal to calm inflammation. A dab of Vaseline, Aquaphor or even coconut oil can soothe the irritation too.

A disappearing labia minora

This menopause symptom stops women in their tracks, often after stepping out of the shower. “Yes, the labia minora absolutely can shrink during menopause,” says ob-gyn Troy Hailparn, MD. “The labia thins, loses definition and in some women appears to recede into the labia majora.” It’s part of a larger condition called genitourinary syndrome of menopause [GSM], which affects roughly 50 percent of postmenopausal women and can bring vaginal dryness, painful sex and recurrent UTIs.

The fix: The gold-standard treatment is local vaginal estrogen, available as a cream, tablet or ring. “I always tell my perimenopausal patients not to wait until intercourse hurts to start the conversation [with their doctor],” Dr. Hailparn says.

Chin hairs with a will to live

If your tweezers have become a daily companion, you’re in good company. “It’s about the balance between estrogen and androgens,” explains board-certified gynecologist Maral Malekzadeh, DO. As estrogen declines, the effects of testosterone become more noticeable, often showing up as coarse hairs on the upper lip, chin and jawline.

The fix: A few natural supplements have study-backed benefits for this bothersome menopause symptom, including spearmint tea, green tea extract, zinc, vitamin D and saw palmetto. If those fall short, talk to your doctor about prescription spironolactone, the topical cream Eflora or laser hair removal.

Phantom smells

You smell smoke. You check every outlet, but nothing’s amiss. It’s called phantosmia, and hormones may be the culprit. “Because estrogen affects the brain and the nerves involved in smell, the early hormone swings of perimenopause could make some women more sensitive to smell or more likely to notice phantom scents,” says Navya Mysore, MD, medical director of women’s health at Nurx. The odors vary from person to person and can be foul or pleasant, often showing up alongside sleep changes, migraines or stress.

The fix: Ask your doctor if menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may be right for you. “Consider evidence-based treatments like hormone therapy, non-hormonal medications or supplements if appropriate—but always do this consultation with a licensed healthcare provider,” says Dr. Mysore.

Dry mouth and dental problems

If your dentist is suddenly finding cavities or your gums look like they’re receding, hormones may be involved. “Estrogen helps maintain saliva production and gum tissue integrity,” says Somi Javaid, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and founder of HerMD. “As estrogen declines, women experience dry mouth, increased cavities and even gum recession. These changes are frequently missed by dental providers who may not connect them to hormonal shifts.”

The fix: It’s hormone treatments to the rescue again, which targets the root cause of this kind of dry mouth. In the meantime, consider some easy home remedies for dry mouth.

Frozen shoulder out of nowhere

Reaching for a coffee cup shouldn’t hurt this much. There’s now a recognized category called musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, which includes symptoms like frozen shoulder, joint pain, cartilage loss and osteoporosis. “Frozen shoulder is thought to be due to the lack of estrogen’s effect on connective tissue and inflammation,” says internal medicine physician Janette Gray, MD. Morning joint stiffness is another common sign, because estrogen normally helps protect cartilage and tamp down inflammation.

The fix: Frozen shoulder can last as long as three years (yikes!). To help speed recovery, consider physical therapy and pain-relieving home remedies like stretching, heat and ice therapy and NSAIDs.

A spike in cholesterol

You haven’t changed your diet, you’re still walking the dog, and yet your LDL numbers crept up at your last physical. “It has been noted that LDL cholesterol goes up in many women at menopause, independent of exercise, weight gain or change in diet,” Dr. Gray says. It’s a sneaky menopause symptom that can fly under the radar if you don’t connect it to your hormones.

The fix: Snack on cholesterol-lowering foods like pecans, fill up on fiber and get plenty of regular physical activity to help bring your numbers down. Check out more effective ways to lower your cholesterol naturally.

The bottom line on surprising symptoms of menopause

If you’re noticing strange new symptoms in your 40s or 50s, pay attention to the pattern, especially if they cluster around hot flashes or changes in your cycle. “Don’t accept ‘this is just aging’ as an answer,” Dr. Javaid says. “Push for information, push for treatment and remember: Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s untreatable.” Your body is talking. It’s worth listening.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Halle Berry Reveals Creatine Helps Her Manage This Menopause Symptom as Early Evidence Expands

Samantha Agate — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:30:48 +0000

Halle Berry says creatine has become a key part of how she manages menopause brain fog, a shift she described on the February 2026 episode of “The Run-Through with Vogue” podcast. The Oscar winner is using her platform to push past stigma and share exactly what she takes and why.

Why does Halle Berry take creatine?

Berry says she takes creatine because it helps reduce brain fog, one of the most common cognitive symptoms women experience during menopause. She added the supplement after rethinking her wellness routine when she learned she was in perimenopause.

“I’m taking an all new set of vitamins and supplements. Magnesium, I’m taking creatine. I thought, ‘Creatine? I’ll never take creatine. That’s going to blow me up.’ No, a girl needs that for brain fog. It helps with brain fog,” Berry said on the podcast. She also said she takes peptides in addition to other supplements as part of a wider overhaul of how she approaches her health in her late 50s.

What other menopause changes has Halle Berry made to her routine?

Berry has changed her diet, her workouts and her mental health practices since learning more about menopause.

“I used to be very keto and I didn’t have any carbs, no pasta, no rice. I realized down this path of life I need some carbs. I need them more probably in vegetables but I also need a little rice. I lift heavier than I ever used to lift. I never lifted weights. I always did like cardio or running or something very physical. Now I’m just in the gym lifting weights,” Berry said.

Does research support creatine for menopause symptoms?

Early research suggests creatine may help with muscle strength, bone health and possibly cognitive function in women going through menopause, though experts say more study is needed. A 2025 study followed 15 women with a mean age of 54, including five in perimenopause and 10 in postmenopause, who paired creatine supplementation with twice-weekly strength training over 14 weeks.

The study found significant increases in lower body strength across both groups, and perimenopausal women showed improvements in sleep quality. Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, senior dietitian at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, told UCLA Health that “early research suggests creatine may support muscle and bone health, especially post-menopause when estrogen declines.” Ansari added that some studies suggest creatine may help with memory and concentration under stress or sleep deprivation.

Why did Halle Berry start the Respin menopause wellness brand?

Berry founded Respin to break the stigma around menopause after she says she was diagnosed with perimenopause at 54 with no warning from her doctors. She has said women deserve better information about a stage of life that can last decades.

“I was one of the millions of women who spent 4-5 years of their lives being misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed at all,” Berry wrote on the Respin website. On the podcast, she emphasized that women now spend roughly half their lives in a menopausal body and that there are more than 100 possible symptoms. “Doctors don’t really understand the menopausal body,” she said, noting it is only a small section of medical school training.

New Science Found That Menopause Changes the Heart at a Genetic Level Before Symptoms Even Appear

Allison Palmer — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:43:10 +0000

Heart disease kills more American women than any other condition, and new research suggests scientists have been underestimating what menopause actually does to the cardiovascular system. The finding could reshape how doctors think about prevention and how women approach the years around midlife.

For decades, the explanation focused on estrogen loss. A March 2026 review in the journal Cells from Virginia Tech points to something more fundamental: menopause appears to alter the body’s gene regulation system itself, switching cardiovascular risk genes on and off in ways that may persist regardless of hormone levels. If you’ve been following the growing conversation around hormones and women’s health, this finding adds an important new layer.

How menopause changes the heart at the genetic level

Led by Sumita Mishra at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, the Virginia Tech team examined how estrogen loss during menopause alters the epigenome, the chemical layer that controls which genes are active in any given cell. If the genome is the sheet music, the epigenome decides which notes get played and how loudly.

The researchers found that estrogen loss reorders the score inside cardiovascular tissue. Epigenetic mechanisms have been studied extensively in breast cancer, but their role in heart disease was largely unmapped until now.

Related work from the Mishra lab published in Hypertension found that estrogen-dependent signaling in the heart and blood vessels shifts after menopause, contributing to changes in vascular function and metabolic regulation.

The team also flagged HFpEF, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, as a particular concern. It’s a form of heart disease that disproportionately affects women and becomes more common after menopause.

Why hormone therapy is back in the conversation

A companion study from Penn State College of Medicine, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology in April 2025, revisited Women’s Health Initiative data and found that estrogen-based hormone therapy meaningfully improved several cardiovascular markers.

Led by Matthew Nudy, the reanalysis tracked 2,696 WHI participants over six years. Both hormone therapy formulations tested reduced LDL cholesterol by roughly 11%, raised HDL, lowered total cholesterol and improved insulin resistance.

The most striking finding involved lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk marker for heart attack and stroke that most women have never heard of. It isn’t affected by diet or most medications, but hormone therapy lowered it.

The reduction was more pronounced in participants with American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry, at 41% and 38% respectively, though researchers say the reason isn’t yet clear.

The benefits align with what cardiologists call the timing hypothesis: HRT appears most protective when started within 10 years of menopause or before age 60.

What this means for women right now

Heart disease causes nearly 1 in 3 deaths among women, according to the CDC. A February 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement projected that nearly 6 in 10 U.S. women will have some form of cardiovascular disease by 2050, driven by rising rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

The Virginia Tech researchers caution that hormone therapy alone can’t undo every epigenetic change. Diet, exercise, metabolic disease and genetic predisposition all interact with the same pathways. The takeaway should be to focus on treating women’s midlife stage as a cardiovascular turning point that deserves the same attention as a cholesterol diagnosis or a family history of heart attack.

That includes asking a doctor about lipoprotein(a) testing, which many women have never been offered, and revisiting the HRT conversation with current evidence rather than the 20-year-old data that still shapes a lot of the fear around it.

Concerned About Bone Loss After 50? Why Penn State Researcher Wants You to Eat Prunes Daily to Prevent It

Allison Palmer — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:29:09 +0000

Bone loss after 50 is one of the most common health concerns women face, and one of the most misunderstood. The good news is that research keeps confirming that the right daily habits can meaningfully slow the decline, and in some cases actually reverse it.

Why does bone loss after 50 speed up so dramatically?

The short answer is estrogen. From your mid-20s through your late 40s, the cells that break down bone and the cells that build it work in rough balance. After menopause, estrogen levels drop sharply, and that balance tips. Bone breakdown begins to outpace formation, sometimes by a significant margin.

Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that bone density and muscle mass can decline 1% to 2% per year post-menopause without intervention. That’s not a dramatic number year to year, but over a decade it compounds into a real and measurable fracture risk. One in three women and one in five men over 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime, making it one of the most consequential preventable health events of midlife.

The encouraging part: bones respond to what you do daily. Estrogen decline sets the stage, but movement, nutrition and a few specific habits have a real say in how the story goes.

Do any foods help with bone density?

Yes, and the evidence is more solid than most people expect. A 12-month randomized controlled trial at Penn State followed 235 postmenopausal women and found that eating just four to six prunes daily preserved cortical bone density and estimated bone strength at the tibia. Hip bone mineral density loss was prevented at 6 months, with those protective effects holding through the full year.

Lead researcher Mary Jane De Souza is continuing the work in a larger trial running through 2029, and Dr. Shirin Hooshmand at San Diego State University is leading a parallel investigation through 2030. Researchers believe prunes’ polyphenols, vitamin K, potassium and boron work together to reduce the inflammatory signaling that drives bone breakdown after menopause.

Four to six prunes a day is genuinely one of the lowest-effort, lowest-cost additions to a bone-health routine that has real clinical trial data behind it.

What’s the best exercise for building bone density after 50?

Strength training, without question. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises load the skeleton directly, which signals the body to lay down new bone tissue. Compound movements like squats, deadlifts, rows and lunges target the hip, spine and legs, the sites most vulnerable to fracture, and deliver the strongest bone-building stimulus.

Two to three sessions a week is a practical starting point. The key over time is progressive load: gradually increasing weight or difficulty so your bones keep adapting rather than plateauing. Bodyweight exercises and resistance bands are a legitimate entry point if you’re newer to lifting.

Walking matters too, more than most people assume. A January 2026 Stanford study found that sustained 10-minute walking bouts, rather than scattered steps throughout the day, produced the strongest cardiovascular and mortality benefits. The same continuous weight-bearing load applies to bone health.

How much protein do I need for bone health after 50?

More than most women are getting, and there’s now a useful target to aim for. A 2025 study found women saw measurable bone density gains from protein up to roughly 60 grams per day. Beyond that threshold, more protein didn’t add additional bone benefit.

Sixty grams is achievable through regular meals. Greek yogurt or eggs at breakfast, fish or chicken at lunch, and a palm-sized portion of protein at dinner gets most women there without supplements. Spreading protein across meals tends to work better than loading it all into one sitting.

Calcium and vitamin D remain foundational and are frequently underdosed after 50. Magnesium, vitamin K and potassium all play supporting roles. Food first, then supplements as a backstop, is the approach most clinicians recommend.

What habits make bone loss worse after 50?

Several common ones. Smoking interferes with bone-building cells and reduces calcium absorption. Heavy alcohol use disrupts the hormones involved in bone remodeling and raises fall risk. Very low calorie diets strip away the building blocks bones need and can further lower estrogen. Prolonged sitting removes the mechanical load signal bones rely on to stay dense.

Johns Hopkins Medicine also flags long-term use of corticosteroids like prednisone and conditions like overactive thyroid as significant risk factors worth discussing with a doctor.

The perimenopause and early menopause window is when these habits do the most damage, because bone loss is steepest in the first several years after estrogen drops. The habits you build now have an outsized impact on where you land a decade from now.

When should I get my bone density checked?

If you’re over 50 and haven’t had this conversation with your doctor, that’s the most useful next step. Osteopenia, the lower-than-normal bone density stage before osteoporosis, is where most of the intervention opportunity lives, and it’s where daily habits have the most runway to make a difference.

A standard DXA scan is typically recommended for women starting at 65, and earlier for those with risk factors like early menopause, a family history of fractures or long-term steroid use. A February 2026 Ohio University study found a newer technology called Cortical Bone Mechanics

Technology outperformed the DXA scan at predicting actual fracture risk by measuring how bones resist bending rather than just how dense they are. It’s not widely available yet, but worth asking about.

The message from researchers is consistent: the window to protect your bones is now, not after a fracture makes the decision for you.

The video Osteoporosis Month: Could prunes be the key to preventing bone loss? featuring Penn State University professor Mary Jane De Souza was first published on Campus Insights Media.

How To Stop Hot Flashes Fast: 7 Cooling Tricks Doctors Say Work in Seconds

Rachel Cosma — Wed, 27 May 2026 14:30:37 +0000

Ever been hit with a sudden wave of heat that leaves you flushed, sweaty and reaching for the nearest fan? Hot flashes are one of the most common—and most disruptive—symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. The good news? There are plenty of simple, proven ways to cool down quickly. Here’s everything you need to know about how to stop hot flashes fast, plus smart strategies to keep them from coming back.

What is a hot flash?

Hot flashes are part of a group of symptoms doctors call vasomotor symptoms, or VMS. They feel like “a sudden, intense heat that generally starts in a core, like the center of a woman’s torso or chest, and goes up into the neck, face and head,” explains ob-gyn Jennifer Ashton, MD. “Hot flashes can be associated with drenching sweat, redness, flushing (or not), but they can also be associated with chills.”

They affect up to 80 percent of women during midlife, and by 2025, an estimated 21 million U.S. women will be experiencing them. Common hot flash symptoms include:

Sudden rush of heat
Flushing
Sweating
Heart palpitations
Chills afterward
Drenching night sweats that disrupt sleep (when they strike overnight)

What causes hot flashes?

Fluctuating hormone levels trigger hot flashes. “There’s an area in the brain that acts as an internal thermostat, and if you’re not producing enough estrogen, this thermostat malfunctions,” says Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern. “Essentially, your body’s thermostat is broken, and it thinks it has to heat up when it doesn’t” as your estrogen levels fall.

How to stop hot flashes fast

When that wave of heat hits, you want relief right now. These doctor-recommended tricks work in minutes to stop this bothersome menopause symptom:

Run cold water over your wrists. The pulse points there contain blood vessels close to the skin, so cool water brings near-instant relief. You can also apply ice or a cold compress to your wrists, temples, the back of your neck or behind your knees to help stop hot flashes fast.
Pop a peppermint. University of Southern California research shows that menthol tricks your nervous system into cooling you down from the inside out. “Although peppermint itself isn’t cold, it contains a protein that triggers signals in the brain to send a message of coldness,” says Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CNS.
Grab a fan. A small foldable fan or water spritzer tucked in your purse is a speedy treatment for hot flashes. The dry, moving air evaporates sweat almost immediately.
Sip cold water. “Cold water can lower body temperature slightly, which can help if you’re experiencing a hot flash in the moment,” says Mindy Goldman, MD, of UC San Francisco.
Cool your neck. A Korean study found that chilling the neck extracts two-and-a-half times more heat than cooling the face. A cooling scarf filled with water-absorbing beads can stop hot flashes fast and keep you comfortable for hours.
Try paced breathing. Slow, steady breathing calms the nervous system quickly. Aim for six breaths per minute. Mayo Clinic researchers found that practicing this for 15 minutes twice daily led to a 52 percent drop in hot flashes.
Sniff lavender. A study in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice suggests lavender essential oil—dabbed on wrists or inhaled—can soothe symptoms by calming the nervous system. Keep a rollerball in your bag to help stop hot flashes fast.

Smart strategies to prevent hot flashes

To reduce how often these bothersome episodes strike, try these study-backed approaches to manage hot flashes:

Eat more edamame. Research in Menopause found that women following a plant-based diet that included a half-cup of soybeans daily for three months experienced a 79 percent decrease in the frequency of their hot flashes. Soy is rich in phytoestrogens, plant compounds that mimic estrogen.
Brew sage tea. In an eight-week Swiss trial, women who took fresh sage extract daily saw up to a 79 percent decrease in flushing, with the most severe hot flashes disappearing entirely.
Try magnesium. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that 400 mg of magnesium oxide daily reduced hot flashes by 41 percent in four weeks. “For women going through menopause, magnesium plays an important role in mitigating vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats,” says Gina Nick, NMD, PhD, a licensed naturopathic physician with a focus on hormone balance and women’s health.
Consider black cohosh. A Mayo Clinic study found supplementing with this flowering herb cut hot flashes by as much as 71 percent.
Practice mindfulness. Women who practiced mindfulness-based stress reduction for eight weeks reduced vasomotor symptoms by as much as 67 percent, according to research in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings.

Tip: Worried about waking up from a night sweat feeling less than fresh? Swipe on Secret Clinical Sleep, Don’t Sweat It Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/Deodorant before bed, which helps build a powerful barrier against sweat and odor while you sleep and offers 100 hours of protection against night sweats.

When to talk to your doctor about how to stop hot flashes

If hot flashes are interfering with your sleep, work or quality of life, reach out to your doctor. Hormone replacement therapy (now called menopausal hormone therapy, or MHT) remains the most effective treatment, and non-hormonal options like Veozah—FDA-approved in 2023—can also help.

“It is okay to ask for treatment,” assures gynecologist Robin Noble, MD. “Just because you can suffer through these symptoms, forgoing treatment is not always the best choice.” There are real, proven ways to help treat hot flashes and feel like yourself again.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

This 30-Second Vagus Nerve Exercise Erases Menopausal Brain Fog Fast

Allison Nemetz — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:00:46 +0000

If you’ve been struggling with menopause-related mental fogginess, we’ve got exciting news: Cutting-edge research suggests that stimulating your vagus nerve might clear your head like magic. What’s the brain fog-vagus nerve link? The nerve—which wanders from your brain stem to your heart, lungs, diaphragm and digestive tract—plays a major role in your body’s stress response. And there’s growing evidence that when you stimulate it for as little as 30 seconds, pretty amazing things can happen.

In a Medical University of South Carolina case study, stimulating the vagus nerve of a 60-year-old woman with severe brain fog turned her murky thinking instantly “brighter,” plus she saw improvements in mood and energy, scientists reported. And results are even better for run-of-the-mill brain fog.

“Women report feeling calmer, more clear-headed and better able to focus right away,” says menopause expert and integrative gynecologist LaKeischa Webb McMillan, MD. Dr. McMillan adds that results continue to improve as the strategy is used consistently over time. How well will your brain respond? We’re sharing everything you need to know to find out—including Dr. McMillan’s quick vagus nerve stimulating exercise.

Why menopause causes brain fog—and how your vagus nerve can help

Menopause triggers sweeping changes involving not just hormones, but also “multiple organ systems, including the brain, adrenal glands, thyroid, gut and metabolic system,” says Dr. McMillan. As a direct result, many women are simultaneously dealing with chronic low-grade inflammation, disrupted sleep and a nervous system stuck in overdrive—all of which chip away at mental clarity.

The vagus nerve sits at the center of that storm. As the body’s primary “rest, digest and restore” pathway (aka the link to your parasympathetic nervous system), it acts as a brake on the stress response. When the vagus nerve is functioning well, the brain gets the signal that it’s safe to relax and think clearly. When it’s weak—as it can become under the chronic stress of hormonal upheaval—focus and memory are among the first casualties.

Giving your vagus nerve a little nudge can provide a host of potential benefits, including “lower heart rate, improved blood pressure regulation and better blood sugar balance,” Dr. McMillan says. As for that fuzzy thinking: “It may help calm the body’s stress response and decrease some of the inflammatory pathways associated with brain fog.” Which is why the doc’s favorite vagus nerve exercise may be your most direct route back to feeling sharp.

Vagus nerve exercise to clear brain fog in seconds

While there are devices that activate the vagus nerve, Dr. McMillan’s go-to recommendation is alternate nostril breathing, and it takes just 30 to 90 seconds. Here’s how to do this simple vagus nerve exercise and blast stubborn brain fog:

Step 1: Using your dominant hand, make an “L” shape with your thumb and index finger and hold it in front of your nose.
Step 2: With your thumb, close your right nostril and breathe in slowly through your left nostril for several seconds. (Left-handed? Reverse the positioning throughout.)
Step 3: Close your left nostril with your index finger, open your right nostril and breathe out through the right side for several seconds.
Step 4: Breathe in through the open right nostril, then close it, open your left nostril and breathe out through the left side. That’s one full cycle. Aim for 10 to 20 cycles.

Here’s why this exercise stimulates vagus nerve activity: Slow, controlled breathing activates pressure-sensitive nerve endings in both your nasal passages and your diaphragm—and your vagus nerve runs directly through both. That physical movement sends a signal straight up the nerve to your brain’s parasympathetic control centers, essentially telling your whole system it’s safe to calm down and think clearly, according to research in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

The bottom line on the vagus nerve fix for brain fog

Foggy thinking isn’t something you have to live with. “I want women to know that their symptoms are valid. They are not ‘making it up in their head,'” Dr. McMillan affirms. A few mindful breaths each day could be the gentle redirection your nervous system has been waiting for—and your path back to feeling like yourself again. To learn more from Dr. McMillan, visit TalkHormones.com.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Tired of Menopause Symptoms? A Probiotic May Increase Estrogen Naturally

Allison Nemetz — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:00:19 +0000

If menopause has left you dealing with achy joints, a fuzzy memory and vaginal dryness, you’re not imagining things. Many of the most frustrating midlife shifts trace back to declining estrogen. For some women, prescription hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—now called menopausal hormone therapy)—offers welcome relief. But it isn’t the right fit for everyone, whether due to medical history, personal preference or simply wanting to try a gentler path first. The good news? Exciting new research suggests that probiotic supplements help increase estrogen levels naturally. Here’s what menopausal women need to know.

What the latest research shows

A recent review published in Frontiers in Aging assessed natural alternatives for supporting healthy estrogen levels in women whose bodies are producing less of the hormone. The reviewers weighed a range of options women have long turned to during midlife, looking at how each might gently nudge estrogen back toward more comfortable territory.

Out of all the contenders evaluated, one stood out as the most potent: a simple probiotic supplement that helps increase estrogen naturally.

The supplement that’s most helpful for increasing estrogen

According to the review, a daily probiotic blend featuring the L. brevis strain raised circulating estrogen by 26 percent in just 12 weeks. That’s a meaningful shift for a strategy as simple as taking a capsule with breakfast.

Why might a probiotic influence hormones and potentially help ease some of the most common symptoms of menopause? Researchers have grown increasingly interested in the connection between gut health and hormone balance. The community of bacteria living in your digestive system plays a role in how the body processes and recirculates estrogen. When that internal ecosystem is humming along, it appears to support hormone levels in ways scientists are still working to fully understand.

For those of us over 40—already paying closer attention to our gut health for digestion, immunity and energy—the idea that the same daily habit could help support estrogen too is welcome news.

One option: Lactoxira SuperSmart 8-in-1 Probiotic Complex. Because it contains a blend of strains, it offers a convenient way to incorporate L. brevis alongside other beneficial bacteria.

Is this ‘estrogen supplement’ right for you?

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by the parade of products promising relief from menopause symptoms, here’s a refreshing takeaway: Sometimes the most effective tools are also the simplest. Adding a daily estrogen supplement in the form of a targeted probiotic could fit easily into the routine you already have—no major lifestyle overhaul required.

A few things to keep in mind before you start:

Talk to your doctor first. If you have a history of hormone-sensitive conditions or take medications that interact with supplements, your healthcare provider can help you decide whether a probiotic estrogen supplement makes sense for you.
Give it time. The 26 percent increase was measured at the 12-week mark. With natural strategies to increase estrogen, consistency matters more than quick fixes.
Pair it with the basics. Strength training, calcium- and vitamin D-rich foods, quality sleep and stress management continue to be cornerstones of feeling your best in midlife and beyond.

The bottom line on probiotics as a natural estrogen supplement

Menopause doesn’t have to be something you simply endure. Whether you’re noticing the first whispers of perimenopause or you’re well into the years that follow, small, science-backed choices can add up to real comfort. A daily probiotic may turn out to be one of the easiest—and most surprising—additions to your wellness toolkit.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Can Allegra and Pepcid Really Ease Menopause Joint Pain and Brain Fog?

lmaxbauer — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:00:55 +0000

The internet is buzzing about a new health trend that claims to calm frustrating symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. It involves taking two over-the-counter medicines at once—a combo of different types of antihistamines, such as Pepcid AC and Allegra. No prescription required. But does this dual antihistamine trick really work? Here’s everything you need to know about this viral health hack from experts and women who have tried it for themselves.

What do Allegra and Pepcid do in the body?

This trend focuses on taking two different classes of antihistamines together, which each block different histamine responses in the body.

An H1 (histamine) blocker like Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin or Zyrtec targets cell receptors linked to allergies and inflammation. Choose these “second generation” allergy meds over first generation meds like Benadryl that can cause drowsiness.
An H2 (histamine) blocker like Pepcid AC (famotidine) targets receptors in the gut. You probably know it better as an antacid to treat acid reflux and indigestion.

As pharmacist Stephen Berkowitz, PharmD, explains on Threads, “You’ve essentially created a complete histamine blockade.”

What histamine has to do with hormones and menopause

Why might this combo help women, especially those struggling with midlife health symptoms? Estrogen and progesterone directly influence mast cells—immune cells that release chemical messengers called histamine. They can affect multiple systems throughout our body, triggering debilitating symptoms.

When hormones dip during midlife, our body may also become more prone to irritations and sensitivities. Think hip and joint pain, itchy ears and even labial discomfort. Histamine activity plus inflammatory responses can worsen symptoms like joint tenderness and pain. That’s where the antihistamine combo comes in: In theory, by taking both medications, you may be able to quiet symptoms that have gone into overdrive.

Who might benefit from Allegra and Pepcid

Women are experimenting with this combo that blocks histamine for various health conditions that share overlapping symptoms—brain fog, fatigue, sleep issues, joint pain, low energy and mood changes. These conditions include:

Perimenopause and menopause
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Endometriosis
Long COVID
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Histamine intolerance
ADHD

Real women share their Allegra and Pepcid results

In a viral social media video, one woman talked about how it instantly improved her mood and energy for her PMDD symptoms: “I just feel a wave of joy come over my brain and body, like somebody pressed a button. I think I took it maybe 45 minutes ago. I feel hyper.”

One woman on Threads shared: “My allergist prescribed this to stop multiple reactions, and it does help relieve brain fog amongst the rest of the issues it helps with.”

Another user expressed her surprise that it helped her so much: “I decided to try the Pepcid/Zyrtec combo because my joints are killing me. What the fresh hell is this magic?!”

Of course, results may vary. A third woman on Threads added this caveat: “I take it daily but I have severe histamine intolerance/possible MCAS. If you don’t have histamine intolerance, it won’t make a difference.”

What research says about antihistamines for menopause

Not much…yet. A study published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine shows antihistamines help with long COVID symptoms. Another study in Frontiers in Sleep, Immunity, and Metabolism conducted on men tested antihistamine use and insomnia. But we still need this Allegra and Pepcid combo tested specifically on perimenopausal and menopausal women.

Allergist Zachary Rubin, MD, author of All About Allergies, has weighed in on the trend. He explained online, “Taking this combination of therapy should make your symptoms better.” But he added, “There’s a lot of issues related to women’s health where there’s just not enough research out there. We need to do more, and this is a call to action.”

What doctors say about the Allegra and Pepcid combo

Integrative medicine expert Amy Shah, MD, confirms, “There is no clinical research on using this combination.” But in an online video, Dr. Shah, who completed an immunology fellowship and conducted mast cell research, says, “We do know that there is some effect, meaning that these medications could be helping in the histamine response.”

Ob-gyn Beverly Joyce, MD, medical advisor to HotPause Health, says, “There’s a theoretical connection. Yes, histamine can influence inflammation, and inflammation can play a role in symptoms like hot flashes or skin changes.” But she adds, “In medicine, we always want to distinguish between what’s plausible and what’s proven. This falls into the ‘plausible but unproven’ category. One of my bigger concerns is that women may delay more effective, evidence-based treatments while trying unproven methods.”

Dr. Joyce advises, “For most women, I wouldn’t consider this a first-line or evidence-based treatment for menopause symptoms. Far better-studied options exist, including hormone therapy.”

Why women are getting creative about menopause care

The frustration is real: Research is severely lacking on women’s issues, including menopause. And many women feel dismissed by their doctors about their menopause symptoms. Plus, the ongoing estrogen patch shortage has left many of us without access to proven treatments. One woman shared this relatable frustration on the Threads post above: “Why is it that women have to crowd source their healthcare? It is really time that our needs be taken seriously.”

Is it safe to take Allegra and Pepcid together?

Before you head to the drugstore, here’s what you need to know about safety. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new medicine or combination. “I am a huge advocate of never starting two medications at the same time unless absolutely necessary,” says physician Roxanne Reid Copper, MD. “If there are side effects, it clouds the picture. I usually start [an] allergy med for two to four weeks, then the GI [medication].”

One more important consideration: This is not a forever fix. There is some research in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience that suggests prolonged H1 medication use in older adults poses an increased risk of dementia. So talk to your doctor about the appropriate duration for your situation.

The bottom line

While formal research is still needed, this antihistamine combo shows real promise—and many women are already experiencing relief. “Definitely something that you want to talk to your doctor about,” says Dr. Shah. “I’m kind of excited about this!”

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Do You Lose Your Labia Minora During Menopause? ‘They’re Just...Gone'

lmaxbauer — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:56 +0000

Ever looked in the mirror lately after stepping out of the shower and thought, Where did everything go? Growing menopause awareness has inspired more honest conversations about surprising body changes and symptoms. And lately, women online have been saying the quiet part out loud by asking: Do you really lose your labia minora during menopause? Here’s what top experts say about the question so many of us are curious about.

Why women online are talking about ‘disappearing labia minora’ during menopause

Let’s start with a quick refresher on what we’re talking about when it comes to vulvar tissues: The labia majora are the larger, outer lips and the labia minora are the smaller, inner folds of skin protecting the vaginal opening. They can both change with age, leaving women caught off guard. One Reddit user shared her shock when her labia began shrinking after a hysterectomy. In a thread titled, “A Case of the Disappearing Labia?” she wrote, “It’s about one-fifth of what it used to be—no exaggeration… I know it sounds crazy, but I am being so serious. They’re just gone… I had no idea that this could even happen. It freaks me out.”

Others shared that it felt like their labia were disappearing before their eyes, almost overnight, essentially fusing with surrounding tissue. One woman on Threads posted: “Labia minora? More like labia no-mora.” And another woman posted the most relatable response, saying, “It’s a cruel twist of fate that the labia shrinks to nothingness, but the gut does not.”

Why your labia minora skin might change during menopause

“As estrogen levels drop, the tissue loses collagen, elastin and subcutaneous volume” so it appears thinner and smaller, explains Troy Hailparn, MD, an ob-gyn at the Cosmetic Gynecology Center of San Antonio. While she works in cosmetic gynecology, her clinical focus has been on understanding how genital tissues change across a woman’s lifespan. “I’ve performed over 1,000 labiaplasties,” she says, “but the bigger part of my work is educating women about their bodies.” Get ready for an eye-opening lesson…

How the labia minora changes with menopause

“Yes, the labia minora absolutely can shrink during menopause,” says Dr. Hailparn. “What happens is the labia thins, loses definition and in some women appears to recede into the labia majora.”

While many women focus on the visible, aesthetic changes, ob-gyn Barbra Hanna, DO, cofounder of MyMenopauseRx, explains, “Labia changes are a sign of underlying hormonal changes and, for some, is associated with bothersome symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).” That medical condition (formerly known as vaginal atrophy) affects roughly 50 percent of postmenopausal women, with symptoms that include burning, pain with intercourse, urinary urgency or recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The good news: GSM is treatable.

The labia majora changes too

“The labia majora aren’t spared either,” Dr. Hailparn says. “They tend to lose fat and tone, and the skin can become loose and fragile. When women come to see me, they describe the whole area as drier, flatter, paler and less like what it used to look like.”

Signs your delicate vaginal tissue is asking for help

Common symptoms you might experience during menopause:

Pain during sex
Discomfort when you move, walk or exercise
Burning or stinging sensations
Persistent itching
Noticeable vaginal dryness
Tissues that feel thinner or more fragile than before
Increased sensitivity or irritation to touch

Thankfully, each of these symptoms responds well to treatment.

Why it’s time to speak up about labia minora changes during menopause

Changes to the labia often fall through the cracks in healthcare. Why? Dr. Hailparn says, “There’s no ‘menopause genital exam’ in the standard visit.” As a result, “Women don’t bring it up, and most physicians don’t ask. Most women discover the issue from looking in a mirror, a partner telling them or through an internet search or an online forum.”

Dr. Hailparn sees widespread misinformation about labia health online, which leads to a lot of confusion and unnecessary fear for women. So we’re setting the record straight with honest, fact-based information.

The best treatment to restore thinning, painful labia tissue

So, what treatments help? “Local vaginal estrogen—cream, tablet or ring—is the first line of defense for almost everyone,” says Dr. Hailparn. It’s been called the gold standard. “It works directly on the tissue with minimal systemic absorption.” Estrogen therapy helps nourish and plump depleted tissues to reduce discomfort. Since the FDA removed black box warnings on estrogen products, Dr. Hailparn and most doctors stress that estrogen treatments are overwhelmingly safe for the majority of patients.

Effective non-estrogen options for relief

While Dr. Hailparn notes that concerns about estrogen are often based on outdated information, she does recommend some other treatment options for women looking for alternative treatments. These three options have research-based evidence to back them up:

Vaginal DHEA: an FDA-approved prescription insert for vaginal dryness and painful intercourse associated with menopause
Ospemifene: an FDA-approved oral medication that works like natural estrogen to restore moisture and comfort
Hyaluronic acid moisturizers: over-the-counter gels or suppositories that draw moisture into cells to help reduce the pain, burning and irritation of thinning tissues

Can cosmetic treatments help ‘rebuild’ the labia?

Some people need or desire a higher level of treatment than medications can provide. “When it comes to actual volume loss, fractional CO2 laser (MonaLisa Touch), radiofrequency (ThermiVA), platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP) and fat grafting can rebuild what’s been lost,” Dr. Haliparn says.

But she adds an important note: “I reserve performing surgery on labia for cases of asymmetry or true mechanical problems—not for volume concerns that respond better to other treatments.”

How to protect your intimate health during menopause

Are there ways to avoid these natural age-related changes to your labia minora and majora? “You can’t prevent menopause, but you can intervene early,” says Dr. Hailparn. “The longer tissue goes without estrogen support, the harder full restoration becomes. Estrogen is like water to a plant. No water and the plant shrivels up. The same for women’s bodies.”

When to speak to your doctor about labia minora changes during menopause

“I always tell my perimenopausal patients not to wait until intercourse hurts to start the conversation,” Dr. Hailparn says. “By then we’re already behind.” Dr. Hanna agrees and reminds, “The most important advice: GSM is progressive. Treat it early and avoid the unwanted changes.”

Bottom line: Don’t suffer in silence. Feel empowered to bring up these menopausal symptoms with your doctor. Labia minora and majora changes during menopause are normal and treatable, so you don’t have to delay taking control. Dr. Hanna encourages, “Tissue changes of the labia are not just about changing anatomy; it’s about quality of life!”

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

Woman's World

Halle Berry Talks Vaginal Dryness, Joylux and the Role She’d Reprise (Exclusive)

Woman's World Answers

Woman’s World: You’ve partnered with Joylux to help launch their new product, Juicy Like a Peach. Can you tell me about it and why it’s an important innovation for women’s intimate health?

Woman’s World: As much as everyone wants to see innovation in women’s health, it can be scary or uncomfortable to try new things. How will Juicy Like a Peach fit into women’s midlife health routines, and why should they try it?

Woman’s World: There’s such a stigma around not just menopause, but every aspect of women’s health. Why do you feel like women should feel free to speak openly about their experiences, both with friends and medical professionals?

Woman’s World: It’s so wonderful that you’ve taken such an interest in talking about it and sharing your experiences, because now other women know they’re not alone. And that’s part of what can be so scary, is that it feels like you’re alone in what you’re going through.

Woman’s World: 100%. It’s great for the younger generation to hear voices like yours to say that it’s not scary, and you don’t need to be afraid and to hear someone of your stature speak about this openly.

Woman’s World: What pushed you to want to become a leading voice for menopause awareness and women’s health advocacy, and what has it been like to bring visibility to those conversations?

Woman’s World: What made you decide to partner with Joylux?

Woman’s World: Switching it up to your career for a moment: You’ve been in some incredible films and played iconic characters, but if you could go back and reprise any of your past roles, which character would you want to bring back?

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Woman's World Answers

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The bottom line

Do You Lose Your Labia Minora During Menopause? ‘They’re Just...Gone'

Why women online are talking about ‘disappearing labia minora’ during menopause

Woman's World Answers

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How the labia minora changes with menopause

The labia majora changes too

Signs your delicate vaginal tissue is asking for help

Why it’s time to speak up about labia minora changes during menopause

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