Itchy Pubes, Friendship Fallouts & the Fear of a Shrinking Fanny

About this episode

The episode discusses midlife challenges including perimenopause symptoms, friendship dynamics, and personal dilemmas.

Today on 40ish, James is drafted in to settle the highly important debate over which one of the ladies is actually more down to earth. Nicole is sporting enormous statement earrings to enhance her brand new Invisalign teeth, whilst Lauren is having a deeply middle-aged moment refusing to throw away perfectly good ziplock bags because they’ve still got life left in them. Meanwhile, the podcast accidentally turns into an amateur gynecology clinic as the ladies attempt to investigate whether itchy pubes are actually a perimenopause symptom and confront the genuinely horrifying concept of vulval shrinkage during menopause. Because apparently nobody warned us that midlife would involve googling sentences like “can your fanny evaporate?” We also tackle this week’s dilemma from a listener whose close friend and hairdresser cut her off after she politely explained she needed a cheaper salon. Was sending the message over text really that unforgivable? Or is this exactly why mixing friendship and business is a bad idea? Plus, one listener shares an infuriating meltdown after finally building up the courage to visit her GP, only to leave feeling dismissed, emotional and like she’d somehow…

People in this episode

Guest: James

Topics covered

• midlife
• perimenopause
• friendship
• gynecology
• personal dilemmas

Keywords

• itchy pubes
• vulval shrinkage
• friendship fallout
• midlife
• perimenopause

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Everywoman Festival

More episodes of 40ish | The Funny Podcast on Perimenopause, Menopause & Midlife

• Steam Mops, Baby Names & Trendy Moustaches · September 8, 2026 · 37 min
• Lost Sparks, Raving & Relationship Advice | Midlife & Menopause Podcast · September 1, 2026 · 41 min
• From The Archives: Aussie Deception Drama & Varicose Veins · August 27, 2026 · 32 min
• From The Archives: Period Necklaces, Parking & Homebase · August 20, 2026 · 37 min
• From The Archives: Nipple Tassels, Top Gun & Frozen Shoulders · August 13, 2026 · 42 min
• From The Archives: I Told A Huge Lie, Sex Dreams & James Nesbitt · August 13, 2026 · 36 min