Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress Gloria Reuben has displayed her talent on screen for years, embodying unforgettable characters such as Jeanie Boulet in the medical drama "ER”. She also toured with rock and roll legend Tina Turner. Now she's stepping into a new role: advocate for women experiencing menopause.
BlackDoctor.org sat down with Reuben who candidly shared her journey through menopause, shedding light on the challenges she faced and the relief she found with a hormone-free treatment. Her story is not just about hot flashes and night sweats—it's about breaking the silence, empowering women, and embracing every stage of life with grace and confidence.
“I started experiencing hot flashes and night sweats about five to six years ago and they started to become more frequent and more severe,” the 59-year-old shares.
These symptoms started to disrupt Reuben’s life, affecting both personal relationships and her career in show business.
You May Also Like
"I often found myself in the makeup chair experiencing a hot flash and apologizing to the makeup artist, tinged with a little embarrassment, even though it's a natural process. I would have to adjust accordingly, being in front of the camera and feeling a hot flash coming up, I would become distracted, kind of pulled out of the scene, if you will. So, that was disruptive,” Reuben recalls.
The vasomotor symptoms (VMS) also began to impact Reuben’s wardrobe choices.
“Sometimes, I would be very, very hyperconscious about what wardrobe I would choose, as I was worried about potentially having a hot flash while wearing wool or a suit,” she adds.
Experiencing vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats can also disrupt even the simplest activities, a lesson Reuben learned firsthand.
You May Also Like
“Whether it be out with friends or on a date, if a hot flash were to arise again, it would kind of take me out of the situation. Needless to say, night sweats would be the same; the disruption in sleep was impacting pretty much every area of my life,” she shares. Like many women, Reuben assumed these symptoms were something she had to endure as a woman entering her menopausal years.
Thankfully, Reuben discovered VEOZAH, an FDA-approved treatment option that’s 100% hormone-free, which she credits to her fewer hot flashes and night sweats. “Because of that, I worry less, have less anxiety, and feel more free, whether at work, in my personal life, or no matter what,” she says.
RELATED: Menopause Hits Sisters Harder, Here’s Why
Breaking the Silence
Reuben's success with VEOZAH has led her to collaborate with Astellas, the drug's creator, to increase awareness about menopause and available treatment options, reassuring women that they are not alone in their journey.
"Menopause is a very natural process in a woman's life, so we're not alone, even though women may feel that way,” she shares. “As an actress, the positive impacts that VEOZAH has had are wonderful. It's terrific for me to embrace the platform I have to encourage women. Not just to remind them that they're not alone, but to encourage them to look for a treatment that might work for them.”
She hopes that by sharing her story more women will feel empowered to open up the conversation and eradicate any embarrassment, silence or shame they may be feeling.
“This is a natural thing that women's bodies do,” she notes."The time is now for more open conversation filled with solutions, treatment options, and honest experience sharing. Women should feel empowered to share their experiences with their doctors, friends, or anyone they choose. It's a natural thing, but it can be tricky in a culture that puts pressure on women and has a stigma around aging. I want women to celebrate every change because it's part of who we are. There's no need to be embarrassed."
Taking the First Step
Reuben also shares her family's “hushed conversations” about menopause, highlighting a common societal stigma that she is challenging through advocating for open dialogue and accessible solutions.
"In my family, we never talked about it. There was such silence around it. For me, silence indicates that there's some kind of shame, something to be ashamed about. It was confusing, even up until recently,” the actress shares. “It was a rare thing that I would talk about with my friends or even in the makeup chair. There was this kind of embarrassment.”
She hopes her positive experience with VEOZAH will inspire other women to seek the right treatment for their needs.
“It's part of that overall process. Every time I mention my experience to friends or colleagues, I'm open about it. Every single one of them, male or female, doesn't even matter the age…This impacts so many women, so let's talk about it more. Solutions are out there, help is out there. However, if it's not discussed, it becomes this kind of secret, something that we shouldn't talk about,” she adds.
Entering a new chapter, the soon-to-be 60-year-old is also driven by a desire for creative expression.
"There is something shifting within me, and I don't just mean physically. It's like a fighter in me, eager to participate more in what I want to do creatively, how I express myself, and how I use my platform,” she shares. “Whether it's to help women or just to focus on my own path, there's always a choice."
For many women, menopause can be intimidating or approached with caution. However, Reuben urges women to take that initial step in seeking help.
"I understand that position very well. I understand the uncertainty that comes from a lack of communication, misinformation online, or other factors. I understand the hesitancy to talk to a doctor or healthcare professional. However, based on my own experience, I knew I needed to find a solution. I didn't want to feel powerless. I felt frustrated and disconnected from my body. So, I decided to take that first step,” Reuben shares. “The next step was talking to my doctor. Maybe this treatment was right for me, maybe not. The key was taking that first step, despite the fear and hesitancy. It's about moving forward, one step at a time."
In addition to her advocacy work, Reuben is also working on several professional projects, including the indie film "Dear Zoe”, which is produced by Travis Kelce and premiered at South by Southwest to rave reviews, and a CBS show called "Elsbeth".
Looking ahead, Reuben plans to continue her advocacy work for menopause awareness and has several other projects in the works.
To learn more about VEOZAH and VMS due to menopause, women should visit VEOZAH.com, where you can find educational information about VMS due to menopause, tips for how to have an informed conversation with your healthcare provider, a VMS impact quiz to help get the conversation started and more information about VEOZAH.
