A Day in Menopause · A Hormonal Comedy by Nurit Rozenblat
Chapter Four: 09:17 — Some Places Are Not for Scratching in Public
At 09:17 Dana discovered there is one thing worse than a hot flash in the middle of the night.
An itch in a place you can't scratch.
She was standing in the kitchen, in the middle of a conversation with Eyal, when suddenly a troubling tingling sensation appeared in her intimate area.
Dana ignored it.
The tingling ignored her back.
She shifted her weight from one leg to the other.
Crossed her legs.
Uncrossed.
Crossed again.
Eyal looked at her.
"Do you need the bathroom?"
"No."
"Then why are you dancing?"
"I'm not dancing."
"Ah."
He went on talking about something connected to their plans for the weekend.
Dana was no longer listening.
All her attention was focused on one very small area of her body, which had decided to start a rebellion without filing a proper request.
Dana, you can simply go to the bathroom.
"I'm in the middle of a conversation."
You haven't listened to a single word in the last five minutes.
"Right."
Eyal stopped.
"What's right?"
"What you said."
"What did I say?"
Dana looked at him.
"You know what? I'll be right back."
She turned and walked toward the bedroom at a fast pace.
Eyal called after her:
"Wait, so should I order for seven or for eight?"
"Yes!"
He stayed in the kitchen.
"I'll assume seven."
Dana went into the bathroom and closed the door.
Privacy at last.
She tried to ease the itch gently, but the friction only increased the burning.
"Now what?"
It could be dryness and irritation in the area of the vulva and vagina.
Dana looked at herself in the mirror.
"Excuse me?"
During the transition to menopause, a drop in estrogen levels can cause the vaginal tissues to become thinner, drier, and more sensitive. This can show up as dryness, burning, itching, and sometimes also pain during intercourse.
Dana was silent.
And then said:
"So my body decided to stop supplying moisture there too?"
In simple words, for some women, yes.
"Wonderful. In my face I need moisturizer, on my hands I need moisturizer, and now this needs a skincare department too?"
Only there you don't use your face cream.
"I know!"
I'm just making sure. You're a creative woman.
Dana sat down on the edge of the bathtub.
"And what does one do about it?"
First of all, don't automatically assume every itch comes from hormonal dryness. A yeast infection, irritation from bath products, skin conditions, and other infections can cause similar symptoms.
"And how do you know what it is?"
If the itching is new, persists, or keeps coming back, it's worth being examined by a gynecologist. Especially if there is unusual discharge, an unfamiliar smell, sores, pain, or bleeding.
Dana thought for a moment.
"And if it really is dryness?"
You can use moisturizers made specifically for the vagina, and a suitable lubricant during intercourse. In some cases, low-dose local estrogen treatment can help a great deal, as medically appropriate.
"And what not to do?"
Don't use scented soaps, internal washes, or irritating products. It's also best to avoid strong scratching, which can make the irritation worse.
Dana nodded.
"Meaning, don't put anything there that promises to smell like flowers."
Exactly. The vagina doesn't need to smell like a candle shop.
Dana laughed.
"Finally something we agree on."
At 09:29 Dana returned to the bedroom.
Eyal stood by the closet looking for a shirt.
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
He looked at her.
"You're walking a little strangely."
Dana stopped.
"Eyal."
"What?"
"There are questions a married man needs to learn not to ask."
He nodded.
"Okay."
Dana sat down on the bed.
Eyal kept looking for a shirt.
A moment later he said:
"Do you know where my blue shirt is?"
"In the closet."
"I can't find it."
"Second shelf."
He opened the shelf.
"Found it."
Dana looked at him.
"You see? There are places where everything works as usual."
Eyal turned around.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He put on the shirt.
And then noticed she was still sitting on the bed.
"Are you not feeling well?"
Dana thought for a moment.
She had been married to him long enough to know that if she said "everything's fine," he would ask again in three minutes.
"I have a bit of dryness and irritation in my intimate area."
Eyal stopped.
"Ah."
"Yes. Ah."
He thought for a moment.
"Do you want me to bring you a cream?"
Dana looked at him.
"Which cream?"
"I don't know. You have loads of creams in the bathroom."
"Eyal, my dear husband, I have news for you. Not every cream you put on an elbow is also suitable for a vagina."
He nodded seriously.
"Good to know."
Dana started to laugh.
"What would you do without me?"
"Probably buy the wrong cream."
"Probably."
He sat down beside her.
"Is it connected to menopause?"
"It could be."
"And it passes?"
"There are treatments that can help."
Eyal nodded.
"If you need to make an appointment with the gynecologist, make one."
Dana looked at him.
He wasn't trying to solve the problem.
He didn't offer strange advice.
He didn't tell her to drink water.
He just sat beside her.
She smiled.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure."
A few seconds later he added:
"I just want to make sure of something."
"What?"
"The cream by the sink, the one with the pink cap…"
Dana looked at him.
"What about it?"
"That's hand cream, right?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I put some of it on my face this morning."
Dana burst out laughing.
"Eyal!"
"What? It says moisture on it!"
She laughed even harder.
"You know what? Stick with the blue shirt. I'll handle the creams."
At 09:41 Dana stood in front of the closet debating what to wear.
Tight jeans?
Definitely not.
Leggings?
Not today.
A loose dress?
Absolutely.
She chose a comfortable cotton dress and underwear that wouldn't create unnecessary friction.
A good choice. Breathable clothes and avoiding friction can help when there's external irritation.
"Do you know what I don't understand?"
What?
"How can it be that nobody talks about these things?"
Actually they do talk, but not always enough. Many women think dryness and irritation are something you just have to suffer in silence.
Dana looked in the mirror.
"And that's not true."
Right. There are ways to treat it, and there's no need to accept pain or discomfort.
She arranged the dress.
Smiled to herself.
And then Eyal peeked in at the door.
"Are you ready?"
"One more moment."
"Where are we going?"
Dana looked at him.
"What do you mean, where?"
"Why did you get dressed?"
She thought for a moment.
"Because I wanted to feel a little more normal."
Eyal smiled.
"You look great."
"Thank you."
He was already about to leave, and then he turned around.
"Just one small question."
Dana took a deep breath.
"What?"
"The cream with the pink cap — can I keep putting it on my face?"
Dana looked at him.
"Eyal, you can put it on your forehead, on your nose, and on your ears too."
He smiled.
"Excellent."
"But if you start to itch, don't come to me with complaints."
He laughed and left.
Dana watched him go.
At least you have a husband who's willing to learn.
"True," she said, "it's just a pity he uses his own body as a testing laboratory."
The time was 09:46.
The hot flashes had already passed.
The sleepless night was behind her.
Her mood had stabilized.
The fatigue was still there.
And now the list also included an area of her body Dana would have preferred not to require her special attention.
She picked up her phone and set herself a reminder to consult her gynecologist.
And then she smiled.
If her body had already decided to enter a renovation period, at least let it let her choose the contractor.
End of Chapter Four.
Continued in Chapter Five: 10:23 — I'm Not Pregnant, Thank You for Asking
© 2026 Nurit Rozenblat. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without the author's prior written permission.
