Hallow Dear, At the age of 42, one has to keep menopause in mind. Menopause is a state when the ovaries are retiring from their function of releasing eggs and hence a state of low Oestrogen in the body is created. All the symptoms of menopause are due to Oestrogen deficiency. Therefore, Pre-menopausal state starts few years before actual menopause. They are gaseous problems due to indigestion, mood swings, hot flushes, irregularity in menstruation, etc.. Gradually the periods start becoming more and more infrequent and are more and more delayed. This happens for few years. Ultimately when the menses do not appear for more than 6 months, menopause is declared. Pain in abdomen with increased vaginal discharge are not the menopausal symptoms. In fact during menopause, vaginal discharge is minimized and women suffer from vaginal dryness. Please report to a Gynaecologist for further investigations. Ultrasonography will identify any tumour (like fibroid) in the uterus. Also it will measure endometrial thickness; if it is more than 4 mm, it should be submitted to histopathological study. Also submit your vaginal discharge for smear for finding any evidence of malignant or pre-malignant changes. In this age, due to thinning of vaginal epithelium, vaginal infections, yeast in particular are very common. Your Gynaecologist will tell you about it. Regular Lactobacilli perineal wash and Lacobacilli vaginal ovules will help you keep your vaginal atmosphere healthy. I would not advise yo to go for any hormone replacement therapy till you have got your thorough hormonal profile and health check up. I hope this provides initial guidelines for menopausal management. Dr. Nishikant Shrotri