Episode 10: Mum Is In Perimenopause, Send Help

In this episode Kate Thomas, an AHPRA-registered pharmacist with 25 years of clinical experience, covers:

• What young men actually think about perimenopause and menopause
• Melatonin: what it actually is and the common misconceptions about how it works
• Immediate versus modified release melatonin and the difference it makes
• Dosing melatonin correctly and why taking more does not mean better sleep
• When melatonin is the right tool for perimenopause sleep disruption and when it is not
• Grounding mats, free electrons and whether earthing technology has any evidence behind it

Episode 10 opens with one of the most charming and quietly moving conversations in the On the Mones catalogue. To mark her son's 21st birthday, Kate sits him down with a microphone and asks him to explain perimenopause to the boys. What follows is a mix of one-word answers, finish-the-sentence confessions and a mother realising, somewhere in the middle of it all, that her son has grown into a man. Beyond the warmth of the moment, the conversation raises something genuinely important: how much do the young men in our lives actually understand about what the women around them are experiencing? And what happens when we start telling them? 

Sleep disruption is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of perimenopause, and melatonin is one of the most widely used and widely misunderstood supplements women reach for. In Episode 10, Kate delivers a clear, evidence-based masterclass on melatonin: what it actually is, how it works in the body, and why it is not a sleeping pill in the traditional sense. Melatonin is a circadian rhythm regulator, not a sedative, and understanding that distinction changes how and when you use it. 

One of the most practical sections of Episode 10 covers the difference between immediate release and modified release melatonin formulations, and when each is appropriate for perimenopause sleep disruption. Kate explains the dosing approach that makes physiological sense and why the instinct to take more when sleep is difficult is counterproductive. For women using melatonin for perimenopause-related sleep issues, this segment provides the clinical context that product labels never include. A telehealth pharmacist consultation can help you work out the right formulation and dose for your specific situation. 

Melatonin is not the right tool for every type of sleep disruption, and knowing the difference matters. Kate covers the specific sleep presentations where melatonin is evidence-based and effective, the situations where it is unlikely to help, and what other options are worth exploring for perimenopause-related sleep problems. Understanding whether your sleep disruption is driven by circadian rhythm changes, hormonal fluctuations, anxiety or a combination is an important first step in finding the right solution. 

Grounding mats, also known as earthing mats, are based on the idea that direct contact with the earth's surface allows free electrons to enter the body, reducing inflammation, lowering cortisol and improving sleep. In Episode 10's Wellness Woo of the Week, Kate examines the evidence behind earthing technology with her characteristic clarity and good humour, asking the question that deserves to be asked: are we experiencing genuine redox biology, or are we mistaking the ritual of intentional rest for the technology we credit it to? 

If this episode has raised questions about melatonin, sleep disruption, perimenopause symptoms or your medication options, a telehealth pharmacist consultation with Kate is a great next step. In a dedicated one-on-one session you can go through your symptoms, your current medications and your treatment options in plain language, without rushing. 

Kate Thomas offers a range of in-depth telehealth medication consultation and medication review services to help you understand your body and your medications.

You can view the transcript for this episode below