Zimbabwe News Update
expressmail
29 min read
UncategorizedBy Nyarai ChumaImagine this: You’re in a meeting, trying to focus, but a sudden, intense heat spreads across your body. Later, a minor irritation makes you snap at a loved one, leaving you feeling guilty and unlike yourself. Welcome to menopause a journey every woman takes, yet so many walk alone, armed with little more than whispered warnings.But beneath these well-known symptoms lies a quieter, more private challenge one that affects over half of menopausal women but remains shrouded in silence: vaginal dryness.It’s a topic that often feels too intimate to share, even with close friends. But when left unspoken, it can steal joy, confidence, and comfort. The truth is, this isn’t just a “women’s issue” it’s a health issue.
And it’s time we brought it into the light.“I Felt It During My Morning Walk”: When Everyday Moments Become UncomfortableFor Grace, a 52-year-old teacher from Bulawayo, the first sign appeared during something as simple as her daily walk.“I’ve always loved my morning strolls, but suddenly, each step began to chafe. It felt like wearing a rough, dry loofah against my skin constantly irritated, no matter what I wore,” she shares. “I started dreading something that once brought me peace.”Grace’s experience is a perfect window into a biological reality. During perimenopause and menopause, declining oestrogen levels cause the vaginal walls to become thinner, drier, and less elastic a condition known as atrophic vaginitis.
This leads to persistent dryness, itching, and for many, pain during intimacy.It’s a change that doesn’t just affect the bedroom. It shows up while driving, sitting through a church serviceA, or playing with grandchildren moments that should be joyful but become tinged with discomfort.Beyond Discomfort: When Your Body No Longer Feels Like Your OwnThe effects of vaginal dryness run deeper than physical irritation. For many women, it shakes their sense of identity.“I’ve always been confident in my work, my relationships, my skin,” Grace reflects. “But this made me feel like my body was betraying me. I didn’t feel like me anymore.”In Zimbabwe, where topics around intimate health are often considered private, many women suffer in silence, fearing judgment or misunderstanding.
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