Gwyneth Paltrow has never shied away from candid conversations about wellness, and now the Iron Man actress is opening up about a topic that affects millions of women: perimenopause. In a Q+A for her the latest edition of her newsletter, Paltrow opened up about her own journey through perimenopause, sharing her thoughts on the benefits and challenges of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and offering insight into how she’s navigating this chapter of life.
“I tried to take other routes, but it wasn’t worth the suffering,” Paltrow said when asked if she takes HRT. “And after all the research I have done and the many cutting-edge MDs I have spoken to, I feel good about my protocol. Dr. Taz is a helpful resource to listen to or read from, as you talk through this with your own doctor.”
A rollar coaster transition
This isn’t the first time Paltrow has opened up about her journey through perimenopause—the transitional phase before menopause when fluctuating hormones can bring a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia and irregular periods. In 2023, the 51-year-old actress told PEOPLE the transition has been “a roller coaster.”
“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 less symptoms,” Paltrow told PEOPLE.
Perimenopause looks different for every woman. One person might experience prominent hot flashes, while another might begin to notice sudden bouts of insomnia and perimenopause.
Even celebrities with access to the best medical care can miss the signs of perimenopause, says Dr. Bruce Dorr, an OB-GYN and senior medical advisor at Biote. For example, Oprah went three years thinking she had a heart condition with no improvements in her symptoms until she went on hormone replacement therapy.
Turns out, the culprit was low estrogen.
Misdiagnosis and frustration
Women can actually experience perimenopause symptoms for years before officially hitting menopause, which occurs, on average, at around age 51. A survey from the menopausal care company Kindra, conducted with the Harris Poll, found that one in three women between 45 to 54 are given an incorrect diagnosis before finding out their symptoms are related to menopause. What’s more, 32% of women were worried their doctor was not very knowledgeable about the topic.
Despite the challenges, Paltrow’s openness about her journey through perimenopause offers a reassuring reminder that women aren’t alone in navigating this often confusing phase of life. By sharing her experiences and advocating for informed, personalized care, Paltrow is helping to normalize conversations around menopause and encourage women to seek the support they need.