Drew Barrymore is opening up about perimenopause and how it has impacted her dating life.
The 48-year-old actress detailed her experience with perimenopause symptoms during an Oprah Daily panel last week alongside Oprah Winfrey, Maria Shriver, Dr. Sharone Malone, Dr. Heather Hirsch and Dr. Judith Joseph.
Perimenopause refers to the time where the body starts to make its natural transition to menopause, which marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years.
“There’s something in that stigma that I don’t want you to think I’m some dusty, old, dry thing. That’s not the image I want,” Barrymore explained, noting that she was hesitant to tell a recent date about the topic of the panel.
“I feel very confident, normally, and I want to be who I am and present myself. But in that moment I thought, I have to tell this story because it was a real life experience of, I’m so proud to be here,” she continued. “I’m an open book. But in that one moment, I was like, ‘I don’t want to say what it is, because I’m engaging in someone who I want to see me a certain way.'”
Barrymore added that the moment made her wonder if there’s any way society can “rebrand” menopause so that it’s not a taboo topic. She has recently been vocal about her experience with perimenopause.
Last month, the actress was joined by Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler during an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show when she had her first hot flash.
“I am so hot, I think I’m having my first perimenopause hot flashes,” she said while quickly taking off her blazer and fanning herself. “For the first time, I think I’m having my first hot flash. Whoa!”
The previous week, the star sat down with Gayle King and spoke about ending the stigma associated with menopause. Barrymore and King both agreed that the only way to change the narrative is to keep talking about it — with both women and men — and not be embarrassed by it.
Barrymore said the stigma will end as people see “the more women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are looking so attractive, feeling so vibrant, living their best lives. The way menopause has been branded is, ‘You’re old, you’re done.’ That’s not it.”
