Beth Behrs Says Perimenopause Dismissed by ‘Specifically Mal…

• The Neighborhood star Beth Behrs says her perimenopause symptoms were dismissed because she was told she was “too young”
• The actress, who turns 39 this month, tells Glamour the reaction came “specifically from male doctors” when she said she was experiencing insomnia, hot flashes and weight gain
• She’s sharing her experience to help other women feel “less alone”

Beth Behrs says doctors — specifically, male doctors — dismissed her perimenopause symptoms, telling the actress she was “too young” for the condition.

“I would go see doctors, get ultrasounds, and was always told ‘You’re fine,’ “ The Neighborhood actress, who turns 39 on Dec. 26, tells Glamour of her long journey to diagnose what was going on.

A year after Behrs and her husband Michael Gladis welcomed daughter Emma George, Behrs says, “I started waking up in the middle of the night with what I thought were fevers, but it felt different from a typical fever. It almost felt like I had a sunburn going up my whole body.” 

She shares that it was “affecting my sleep, and I was getting really bad insomnia, along with really heavy periods and heavy fatigue. I was gaining weight even though I was still exercising the same and eating healthy. My stomach was so inflamed that I couldn’t even latch my jeans at work.”

Symptoms of perimenopause — the transitional period to menopause — include irregular periods, hot flashes, and mood changes, the Mayo Clinic says, adding that while it generally starts in your 40s, some women begin experiencing perimenopause in their 30s.

However, the 2 Broke Girls alum says dismissal came “specifically from male doctors,” as she was told “ ‘You’re too young for perimenopause.’  But I knew something wasn’t right. And now I know that, no, your late 30s is not ‘too young.’ ” 

Behrs said that it wasn’t until she mentioned her symptoms to a costume designer on The Neighborhood that perimenopause came up as a possible cause.

“It wasn’t a great feeling of joy to find out my symptoms were related to perimenopause, but it was a relief that it wasn’t something more serious. And comforting to finally have answers,” Behrs said, saying that she takes estrogen supplements and birth control pills to help her symptoms. “I still get hot flashes or brain fog occasionally, but at least I know why,” she says.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Behr shares that she’s talking about her experience with perimenopause at a young age because “it can help women realize they aren’t alone with the changes they’re going through.”

Behrs, who also shared she struggled with disordered eating when she was younger, says “by the way, I’m a s—t-ton happier at almost 40 than I was at 25 … man, I wish I had the empowered voice that I have cultivated over more years on this earth than I did back then.”

“Age has never been something that really freaked me out, even though I can see the changes in my face and body whenever there’s a repeat of 2 Broke Girls on. I’m owning who I am now, and I’m empowered by it,” she says.

“Let’s help other women feel less alone as they’re going through some of these hormonal changes.”