I have not had period for the last 10 months but now I am having period again, this time with black spots. Is this normal?

This is a common scenario on the approach to the menopause. Many women find that they can go months without a period then suddenly get one back, usually heavy.

As you approach the menopause your hormones don't always fall gracefully and can go up and down and stay static for a while. When you get a sudden rise this can often trigger a bleed. They may be of a different consistency or smell different too. Periods like this tend to be heavy as well and this can sometimes continue like this for several years before your periods stop for good.

However, heavy periods can cause anaemia which in turn can cause fatigue, low mood and sleep problems so it is always best to get this checked out by your doctor or a nurse as well.

Eileen Durward