Experts on Why GSM Gets Misdiagnosed as Herpes (Bored Panda via Yahoo Canada, Aug 2026)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: Bored Panda via Yahoo Canada (self.com corroborating coverage) · Published: August 4, 2026 · Accessed: August 13, 2026

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Claims this source supports

• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) affects an estimated 45-87% of postmenopausal women, making it one of the most common menopause conditions - yet it is routinely misread as yeast infections, herpes, UTIs, or anxiety.
• Halle Berry's widely-shared experience: after sex she felt 'like I have razor blades in my vagina'; a gynecologist told her she had 'the worst case of herpes I have ever seen'; she and partner Van Hunt spent 72 hours in a blame spiral before both tested negative. The real cause was GSM from estrogen loss.
• Unlike hot flashes, GSM symptoms typically increase in severity over time if left unaddressed - and the condition is completely treatable, yet remains widely overlooked even in medical settings.