Questions about women’s health can be uncomfortable or even embarrassing to ask your doctor in-person. So we asked RIC readers to let us know their women’s health questions — and here with the answers is Virginia Physicians for Women OB/GYN Dr. Allison Giles.

Q: Is there anything you can do to support yourself through the changes that come with perimenopause?

A: First of all, what is perimenopause? What happened to just good old menopause? Well, perimenopause refers to the menopausal transition. It starts to happen about four years before your period stops… The usual symptoms are irregular periods, hot flashes, mood changes, and fatigue. See full answer here.

Q: What should I do if I get a tampon stuck?

A: Many — if not all — women who use tampons have experienced the heart dropping panic of getting a tampon stuck or realizing that there’s a tampon in there that has long been forgotten. While you may feel that this is the height of embarrassment, all OB/GYNs can assure you that it is not. See full answer here.

Read the full Q+A for more answers to questions about self breast checks, Pap smears, and birth control. Have another question? Virginia Physicians for Women can help with all your women’s health needs — learn more or schedule an appointment.*