I am 49 years old and my periods have been regular, lasting 5 days maximum. This month my period was late and I have been bleeding now for 10 days. Sometimes, going on the toilet, there is no blood and I think that maybe it is finished but then 4 hours later there is lots of bright red blood and some small clots. The blood seems to smell. Is this normal?

At the start of the menopause periods often go a bit haywire, sometimes being very unlike what you are used to experiencing.

However, just because you are in the menopausal age bracket doesn't mean that you should accept everything that happens to you as being due to the menopause!

I would suggest that you check this out with your doctor in case you have a fibroid. Also, bleeding for 10 days is never going to be healthy - if this type of period occurs again then the doctor can give you medication to stop it.

Remember to take an iron tonic such as Floradix if you are losing a lot of blood.

Eileen Durward