I have just had my 50th birthday. I have always had regular periods but my last period has been happening for 2 weeks and is very heavy with some clots. I saw my doctor this morning and she told me it's not menopause. If my periods have been regular up to this point, do you agree? This has now worried me.

Although we are not allowed to contradict doctors, in my experience this is often one of the first signs that your hormonal balance is changing.

Your periods can start to become irregular, closer together or further apart, lighter or heavier, shorter or longer, there are lots of variations!

You are also in the average age range which is 45-55. However, if your periods keep being longer for a while this can cause anaemia which in turn can cause fatigue, low mood and poor sleep so you may find a gentle iron tonic such as Floradix helpful.

If this has worried you and your doctor has not given you any further advice (she should at least have offered to test your hormone levels!) it is best to go back and ask them to do a test, this should then give you a better idea as to what is happening.

Eileen Durward