Episode 3: Progesterone, Brain Fog & Why Collagen Can’t Read

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

• Why progesterone is not always a gentle background hormone and how it acts in the brain
• The real science behind progesterone intolerance, PMDD and GABA receptors
• Why perimenopause does not steal your intelligence, it steals your buffer
• Estrogen, cognition, working memory and task overload during perimenopause
• The truth about collagen powders, protein marketing and what the evidence actually says

Progesterone is often described as the calming hormone, but for many women it causes anxiety, low mood, flatness or a feeling of being completely unhinged. Kate explains the science behind this in Episode 3, covering how progesterone interacts with GABA receptors in the brain and why some women are genuinely intolerant to it. If you have ever been told to just push through it when starting progesterone, this episode will validate exactly why that advice is so unhelpful. Understanding your progesterone sensitivity is an important part of navigating HRT and menopause treatment options. 

Brain fog during perimenopause is one of the most distressing and least discussed symptoms women experience. It affects confidence, identity and the ability to function at work and at home. In this episode Kate gets personal about the kind of brain fog that makes you question yourself, explaining the connection between estrogen, cognition and working memory. The key insight: perimenopause does not make you less intelligent. It removes your cognitive buffer, making everything feel harder than it should. A telehealth pharmacist consultation can help you understand whether your brain fog is hormone-related and what options are available. 

Spoiler: no. Episode 3's Wellness Woo of the Week takes on collagen powders and the broader world of protein marketing. Kate explains what actually happens when you eat protein, why collagen cannot be directed to a specific body part, and how to separate legitimate nutrition science from the kind of seductive nonsense that fills women's health spaces. If you have ever spent money on a collagen supplement wondering whether it is actually doing anything, this segment is for you. 

If this episode has raised questions about progesterone, brain fog or your HRT 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 Episode 3 below