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Niecy Nash-Betts Embraces Menopause: A Journey of Awareness and Support
Niecy Nash-Betts, the talented actress best known for her riveting role as Glenda Cleveland in the Netflix series about Jeffrey Dahmer, has been vocal about her recent experiences with menopause. At 54, Nash-Betts is thriving in her career, but she recently found herself grappling with unexpected fatigue, hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats—symptoms that led her to recognize she was in the throes of menopause.
Initially, she dismissed her fatigue as a byproduct of her demanding Hollywood career. “Every Black woman I know is tired, so I just thought that’s what I was dealing with,” she shared in an interview with Women’s Health. However, as her symptoms intensified, it became clear that menopause was the issue at hand. Like many women, Nash-Betts had never thought to discuss these changes with her doctor, reflecting a widespread tendency among women to suffer in silence through this significant life transition.
The stigma surrounding menopause is prevalent; research indicates that a substantial percentage of menopausal women experience shame related to their symptoms, and 83 percent associate stigma with their experiences. Nash-Betts was particularly caught off guard by a common symptom—hair thinning and dryness. She highlighted that nearly 50 percent of menopausal women face moderate to excessive hair loss due to hormonal changes, specifically the decrease of estrogen.
Seeking to empower herself and others, Nash-Betts partnered with Versalie, an online platform dedicated to providing educational resources and support for women experiencing menopause. Versalie features expert-backed symptom guides, articles, and a marketplace for menopause-related products, including hair loss treatments and health supplements. Nash-Betts admitted that this type of resource would have been invaluable during her own journey and emphasized the importance of not suffering alone.
“Maximize the resources that are available to you. Don’t suffer in silence,” she advises other women. For her hair thinning concerns, she discovered that hair growth supplements made a difference. Products rich in biotin, folic acid, B12, and zinc are available on Versalie and can be beneficial for women facing similar issues.
The most significant change for Nash-Betts has been building a supportive network of friends and peers who are navigating the same experiences. “I’ve recommended Versalie to so many people,” she says, underscoring the importance of community—both online and offline.
In sharing her journey, Nash-Betts hopes to raise awareness about menopause and encourage open conversation, breaking the stigma that often surrounds it. With platforms like Versalie providing essential support and resources, she believes women can feel empowered during this critical life stage.
For women experiencing similar menopausal symptoms, Nash-Betts’s story serves as an encouraging reminder: they are not alone, and support is available.
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