DEAR READER: Menopause occurs only after a woman stops menstruating completely for 12 months. My guess is you have perimenopause, a stage that precedes menopause. This occurs because your body is not producing hormones as it did before. It generally consists of irregular cycles. They may be more frequent, shorter in length, lighter, or you may skip a month or two only to return to a normal monthly pattern. You may experience hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes or periods of poor concentration. Your hair may thin, and you may experience insomnia. Things won’t be as bad as they sound. Speak with your physician or gynecologist if you have specific questions.

The key is to take care of your body, eat well, exercise often, don’t smoke, and take life a day at a time.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Menopause.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44091-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.

DEAR READER: Thank you for your kind comments. I am happy to have helped.

Bee pollen has been used for years. It is touted to cure certain health problems and to be an exceptionally nutritious food. It has undergone years of research, but so far, nothing can be confirmed. However, there is a plethora of anecdotal information about its use and benefits, especially online.

Bee pollen is simply pollen that is collected from the bodies of bees. It has vitamins, minerals, protein, fats and carbohydrates and may even contain some bee saliva.

Available in many health-food stores, it can be found as a supplement or in skin-softening products. Some even claim that it can be beneficial in treating or even curing, asthma, allergies, alcoholism, stomach upset and more, but remember that none of this has been proven scientifically.

If you suffer from allergies to pollen, this supplement may cause a serious or even life-threatening reaction, so it is important to talk to your physician before using it. It shouldn’t be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women but otherwise appears to be safe for short-term use.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Menopause.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.

DEAR READER: Simply put, perimenopause is an introduction to menopause. It commonly occurs when a female is in her 40s, but can happen to some women in their mid-30s. It generally lasts between two to eight years and is a natural part of the aging process. Estrogen levels rise and fall in an erratic pattern, and women may experience problems sleeping, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes and more. Repeated menstrual irregularity, however, is one of the most widely recognized initial phases of the condition. As long as the irregularity isn’t accompanied by extremely heavy bleeding, breakthrough bleeding between cycles, bleeding that lasts longer than eight days and cycles that occur fewer than 21 days apart, you can usually consider things as progressing normally. However, complications outside these guidelines should be brought to your primary-care physician’s or gynecologist’s attention.

There are several circumstances that have a bearing on when perimenopause or menopause might begin. Smoking, for example, is known to trigger menopause up to two years earlier than in those without a history. Other signs of an earlier-than-normal occurrence are chemotherapy for childhood cancer, never having delivered a baby, hysterectomy and pelvic radiation therapy.

Therapy might include the use of oral contraceptives for the purpose of regulating cycles, and reducing vaginal dryness and hot flashes. A progestin-containing IUD (intrauterine device) might control heavy bleeding, while progestin therapy might regulate cycles.

If you are satisfied with the information you already received, I recommend you continue as you are, eat well, exercise, avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can trigger hot flashes, and enjoy each day to the fullest. If you are dissatisfied, either jot down a list of questions and return to your physician for an explanation, or request a second opinion.

In the interim, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Menopause.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.