Episode 6: Periods Gone Rogue

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

• Why periods change so dramatically during perimenopause and what is driving it
• What counts as abnormal bleeding and when to seek urgent medical review
• The link between fluctuating estrogen and emotional depth in midlife
• Why feelings land differently as we age and the biology behind it
• How to advocate for yourself when you are told this is just your age
• The difference between perimenopause bleeding patterns and other causes that need investigation

One of the most disruptive and least discussed aspects of perimenopause is what happens to your period. For many women, bleeding that was once predictable becomes heavier, more frequent, further apart or completely unpredictable. This is driven by the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause, particularly the erratic behaviour of estrogen and the decline of progesterone. In Episode 6, Kate explains the biology behind these changes clearly and practically, helping women understand what is a normal part of the perimenopause transition and what warrants further investigation with a GP or specialist. 

Not all irregular bleeding during perimenopause is straightforward. Kate covers the signs that warrant prompt medical attention, including very heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, and bleeding after intercourse. Understanding the difference between expected perimenopause bleeding patterns and symptoms that need investigation is an important part of advocating for your own health. If you are unsure whether your bleeding is within the range of normal perimenopause changes, a telehealth pharmacist consultation can help you prepare the right questions for your GP. 

The opening story of Episode 6, a ninety-year-old man paying for his prescriptions with Chaucer, is more than a beautiful moment. It is a window into something many midlife women notice but rarely have language for: that things land differently now. Emotions linger longer, meaning matters more and moments that might have passed unnoticed in your thirties now feel significant. Kate explores the biology behind this shift, connecting estrogen's role in emotional processing with the broader experience of midlife emotional depth. 

Magnesium has somehow been promoted to nervous system saviour, hormone therapy replacement and emotional support supplement all at once. In Episode 6's Wellness Woo of the Week, Kate cuts through the hype and looks at what magnesium actually does in the body, where the evidence genuinely supports its use, and where the claims go well beyond what the science can back up. For women spending money on magnesium supplements hoping they will replace or enhance HRT, this segment offers important and practical clarity. 

If this episode has raised questions about your bleeding, your hormones or your perimenopause symptoms, 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