Naomi Watts Talks About Menopause, Says 'Getting Older Is A Privilege'

Naomi Watts thinks there's nothing bad about menopause, so there is no reason for it to be surrounded by stigma. Likewise, she believes "getting older is a privilege."

The 53-year-old actress took to Instagram Wednesday to talk about menopause. She let her followers know that the word used to "freak her out," but she soon realized that it's "just a natural phase of life."

"When I was in my late 30s, I was finally ready to start thinking about creating a family. Then the M word swiftly blew my doors down, it felt like a head-on collision with a Mack truck," Watts wrote in her post, which came with a selfie.

"How could I figure this out when no one was talking? I was earlier to it than my peers. My mentors and mum didn't seem up for discussing it, I didn't know how to ask for help and they didn't know how to provide… even doctors had little to say. It's oddly like an unwritten code of silence: women should suck it up and cope because that's how generations passed have done it," she continued.

Watts then said she wants this phase of life or age group to be well-represented in media and marketing, "particularly since more than 1 billion people worldwide will be menopausal by 2025."

"When you spotlight uncomfortable conversations, they get easier. Progress is made. Why has this particular one taken so long? Let's conquer the stigma and address the secrecy and shame we’ve felt and help create a healthier foundation for future generations," she further noted.

"Getting older is a privilege and a time for us to feel proud of our cumulative experiences — to feel empowered, unapologetically so. I think being part of a change-maker generation is exciting. No more walking through this alone," Watts said in conclusion.

This is not the first time Watts has spoken up about the importance of women's health care. Last week, the actress came up with an Instagram post reminding her fans about the importance of staying on top of health screenings.

"Reminder to get your lady parts checked!" Watts wrote in the caption of her mirror selfie, which showed her wearing a pink medical robe and a matching surgical mask.