I am 51 and until recently my periods have been regular as clockwork. But in the last 7 weeks I have had 3 periods. In the ten days between my last period and the one that started today I had very sore breasts and a bloody discharge most days. Could this be the start of the menopause or could it be something else?

This is very common as you start the menopause and can go on for some time before your periods finally stop. However frequent/heavy periods are not good for you - they can cause fatigue, low mood, and poor sleep so if this continues it is best to see your doctor.

Nettle tea and kelp can often help the sore breasts, and you may find a female multivitamin supplement will support your system generally.

Eileen Durward