I had a period on the 26th of July, and then I started bleeding again a week later. I have now been bledding, on and off, for three weeks. Is this the start of the menopause? Do you think that I should go to the doctor to get it confirmed?

This is a common scenario on the approach to the menopause.

For some women, this may just happen for a few months and then their periods tail off before stopping but for other women, this can continue for a good while.

Over time this can cause anaemia, which in turn can cause fatigue, low mood, and poor sleep. If this does happen, it is important to go to your doctor and ask them to look into it for you. 

Nausea is also common and caused by fluctuating hormones - a bit similar to morning sickness in pregnancy! If you like ginger you may find having a cup or two of ginger tea a day calms this down.

Low blood sugar levels and dehydration can be contributory factors so make sure that you eat little and often. Remember to eat healthy snacks such as nuts and seeds, dried fruit or yogurt, not sugary ones which can make symptoms worse!

Drink plenty of plain water every day - try to avoid coffee, fizzy drinks, and alcohol as well.

In the meantime, you may find a gentle iron tonic such as Floradix helpful, and some women find the herb Agnus castus beneficial for this as it is traditionally used to help restore a proper monthly cycle.

Eileen Durward