Wife's Hormonal Changes

We are a (51M) and (47F) 20 year happily married couple. Talking with my wife last night, she informed me that her "lady bits" have been having issues the last 3-4 weeks with itching, burning, and major decrease in lubrication. She attributes it to hormones and being in those beginning stages of menopause, which I read is not uncommon. We haven't really had to use lube in the past, but she bought some lube--which we did use the last time two times we had sex. We average about 1x a week for sex. She says she's scared because she talked with one of her coworkers who is experiencing the same sort of symptoms, and her coworker experienced tearing of the vaginal wall just from her husband using his fingers/hand in and around her vaginal area. Curious how other couples have navigated these types of changes. Now I'm afraid to have sex with my wife because I don't want her to get hurt or experience the tearing that her coworker speaks of.