For the majority of women, symptoms of menopause (which you experience because your hormones are becoming unbalanced) start appearing before periods come to a stop. Check this list, and if you find that any of these symptoms sound familiar, speak with your GP; you may be approaching menopause.

Difficulty concentrating

Dry hair or skin

Feeling irritable

Frequent urination

Hot flushes

Inability to sleep, or interrupted sleep

Incontinence

Irregular periods

Lapses of memory

Mood swings

Rapid heartbeats (or ‘heart flutters’)

Vaginal dryness