Chicago City Wire

Actor Halle Berry and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) researcher Pauline Maki have joined forces to advocate for advancements in menopause care, research, and policy. The duo hosted an event on March 13 at the University Club of Chicago, focusing on the significant impacts of menopause on health and the economy.

Maki emphasized that over a billion women globally are experiencing menopause or are postmenopausal, with many spending a third of their lives in this stage. She noted that symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings can last over a decade, affecting women's long-term health outcomes including bone, brain, and cardiovascular health. "How many women fall out of the workforce for a day, for a week, for a month, for a year, forever, when they reach this time of their life?" Berry asked during the event. "How much money do we cost the healthcare system because menopausal women don’t have access to care?"

The event also highlighted that menopause symptoms can impact brain function. Maki stated, "We don’t think those symptoms are just benign," adding that they are linked to Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and other brain-related issues.

Both Berry and Maki stressed that menopause research is underfunded and not prioritized globally. With 25% of the U.S. workforce affected by menopause and $1.8 billion lost annually in productivity, addressing these issues is seen as an economic necessity.

Berry shared her personal experience with menopause misdiagnosis at the event attended by state leaders like Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. "At 54 years old, I got a misdiagnosis of having herpes," Berry revealed. "It ended up being a very common symptom of perimenopause."

This experience motivated Berry to use her platform for advocacy: "I’ve got to try to use my voice... And so that got me on this advocacy mission."

Berry has also launched Respin to provide reliable information about menopause, with Maki serving as medical adviser for its digital health offering.

During the event, Stratton announced Oct. 12–18 as Illinois Menopause Awareness Week to coincide with World Menopause Day on Oct. 18.

Maki introduced CHARM (Center for Health, Awareness and Research on Menopause) at UIC to address gaps in medical training and research related to menopause.

"What you’re hearing today is the brainchild, the strategic plan of CHARM," Maki said. "We’re going to make a difference here in Chicagoland...and we’re going to make a difference in the state of Illinois."