Brooke Shields is speaking out about a deeply personal and troubling experience involving her health.
In her new memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old, the 59-year-old Suddenly Susan actress reveals she underwent labia reduction surgery in her 40s due to persistent discomfort, chafing, and bleeding. However, during a post-op appointment, Brooke learned her doctor had performed an additional vaginal rejuvenation procedure—something he did without her consent.
“I’d be lying if I said I’m not embarrassed to share this very intimate information,” Brooke wrote in an excerpt shared by Us Weekly. “But, if we are to change the way we approach and talk about women’s health, then we need to bring up the uncomfortable but very real issues.”
The actress explained that her doctor proudly referred to the unauthorized procedure as a “bonus,” describing it as a “twofer.” For Brooke, it felt like a profound violation.
“He informed me that he threw in a little bonus,” she told Us Weekly. “It felt like such an invasion—such a bizarre, like, rape of some kind.”
Brooke was clear that the decision to “tighten” or “firm” anything was never part of the conversation. “Nothing pointed toward this need to be tighter or smaller or firmer or younger, especially there,” she emphasized.
Initially, Brooke kept the ordeal to herself, even refraining from sharing it with her husband, producer Chris Henchy. “I didn’t tell him for the longest time,” she admitted.
Now, Brooke is breaking her silence to advocate for women’s autonomy and shed light on an issue that often goes unspoken. “I thought, I don’t want anybody else telling me what I have to do,” she shared.
By sharing her story, Brooke hopes to challenge the stigma surrounding women’s health and empower others to demand full control over their own bodies. Her willingness to address such a personal and sensitive experience is part of her larger mission to foster more open conversations about the challenges women face, particularly as they age.
Brooke’s memoir not only details her own experiences but also serves as a powerful call for change in how society approaches and respects women’s health choices. It’s an important reminder that consent and autonomy must be at the forefront of every medical interaction.
