Halle Berry, 57, screams 'I'm in menopause!' on steps of US Capitol at rally to raise 'awareness' about the big change

Halle Berry joined a group of bipartisan senators at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to push for legislation that would allocate $275 million toward research and education for menopause.

The 57-year-old actress proudly declared that she was in menopause, the major hormone shift middle-age women experience marking the end of their menstrual cycles.

'I'm in menopause, OK?' Berry announced. 'The shame has to be taken out of menopause. We have to talk about this very normal part of our life that happens. 

'Our doctors can't even say the word to us, let alone walk us through the journey.' 

The bipartisan Senate bill, known as the Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act, asks the federal government to increase funding for hormone therapy, which is used to treat hot flashes and other symptoms, as well as clinical trials related to menopause.

Oscar-winning actress and women's health activist Halle Berry joins female senators as they introduce new legislation to boost federal research on menopause, at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Thursday

The 57-year-old actress proudly declared that she was in menopause, the major hormone shift middle-age women experience signaling the end of their menstrual cycles

The bipartisan Senate bill, the Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act, would create public health efforts to improve women's mid-life health

After receiving a false diagnosis of Herpes, Berry found out the truth about her painful symptoms: she was experiencing perimenopause, or the beginning stages of menopause when estrogen levels begin to drastically decrease. 

The proposal would set aside $125 million for clinical trials, public health and medical research on menopause.

The leftover funds would be used to support menopause diagnosis, detection, treatment and raising awareness.

'Menopause is not a bad word, it's not something to be ashamed of, and it's not something Congress or the federal government should ignore,' Murray said.

Seventeen female senators — three Republicans, 13 Democrats and one independent — voiced their support for the bill. 

On Thursday, more senators expressed their hope that the bill will make starting the conversation about menopause easier and less taboo.

Berry is one of many middle-aged female celebrities who have become candid about their menopausal journey.

Drew Barrymore has invested into Evernow, a menopause telemedicine company. Wile, a company that sells supplements, was founded by Judy Greer. Stripes, founded by Naomi Watts, offers menopause products, AP News reported.

Last year, President Joe Biden announced a new program to help improve federal research on women's health, particularly menopause.

The National Institutes of Health's director, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, said that there is not enough research done for women's health, especially older women.

Berry (right) found out she was experiencing perimenopause, or the beginning stages of menopause when estrogen levels begin to drastically decrease 

Berry (pictured) is one of many middle-aged female celebrities who have become candid about their menopausal journey

Before learning she was experiencing perimenopause, Berry was falsely diagnosed with Herpes

While the legislation gained rare bipartisan support, the future of the bill is uncertain given the nation's polarizing political climate and the presidential election just around the corner.

Although Congress is notoriously male-dominated, Murkowski said she was looking forward to winning their support, as their fiscal support is pivotal in funding research.

'If men went through menopause we would have adequately and appropriately funded the research (into) menopause decades and decades ago,' said Murkowski.