LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Gwyneth Paltrow is shedding light on her experiences with perimenopause, a topic that has been historically considered taboo.
"I'm glad that there is a big change in the culture and women are talking about this now. Because in my mother's generation that was not the case whatsoever," the 51-year-old actress told People.
Gwyneth Paltrow shares the diverse spectrum of perimenopause symptoms she encountered
Speaking about navigating the often challenging phase of perimenopause, a transitional period prior to menopause which is characterized by hormonal fluctuation.
The phase also has a spectrum of symptoms including irregular periods, insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness.
"I'm really in the thick of perimenopause, so it's quite a roller coaster and my best advice is that every woman really needs to contemplate what is the right way for her," Paltrow shared.
"For me, I've been really trying to focus on having a very well-functioning gut and liver so that these excess hormones can be flushed out of the body and cause fewer symptoms," she added.
Gwyneth Paltrow spoke about the 'shift' in her body
At the age of 45, the 'Proof' actress initially observed a notable "shift" in her body. Recognizing the scarcity of open discussions about menopause, she commented on the challenges of experiencing a sense of "losing your mind."
She expressed, "I just thought it was so strange that there was nowhere that I could go to understand if everything I was going through was normal."
"Now I'm getting my period every 18 days, or whatever came up,” she adds, noting that her friends were going through the same but no one ever mentioned it."
"So now we're trying to just talk about it more," she added.
Gwyneth Paltrow says menopause is 'nothing to be hidden'
Championing open dialogue, Paltrow encourages women to openly discuss menopause, with the goal of normalizing conversations about the process and facilitating a more accessible support network for women navigating this phase.
"There are a lot of great options available, whether it's HRT or different supplements, but I'm just glad everybody's talking about it because it used to be so full of shame and it's just another chapter for us," said Paltrow.
“It's nothing to be hidden. I think it's great, and I'm so happy that there's a community now, and that there are these great startups springing up," the wellness guru added noting brands like Midi Health, Evernow, and Naomi Watts’ brand Stripes.
"There's all these platforms that are being created to help women through it," the 'Goop' founder shared.