I am 40 years old and my periods have become very irregular. I dont get hot flushes, I just feel emotional. I have had problems with my periods since I turned 40 6 months ago. Is this a sign of the menopause?

Irregular periods are often an early indication of the approach to the menopause. However, the average age for the menopause is 45-55, so you may still be a little young, but it is not unheard of at your age.

The best thing you can do is go to your GP as they can measure your hormone levels to get a clearer idea of what is happening.

Eileen Durward