My first baby turns 21. So naturally, I sat him down with a microphone and asked him to explain perimenopause to the boys.
What does a 21-year-old man think hormones are? Do young men talk about menopause? If boys had menopause, what would happen?
There are one-word answers. There are finish-the-sentence confessions. And somewhere in there, a mother realising her son is now a man.
Then Episode 10 of On the Mones turns to the reassuring comfort of biology with a clear, evidence-based masterclass on melatonin:
And in Wellness Woo of the Week, Kate plugs herself into the earth. Grounding mats. Free electrons. USB cords for your doona. Do they reduce inflammation, lower cortisol and improve sleep? Or are we mistaking ritual for redox biology?
This episode is motherhood, midlife medicine, circadian rhythm and a gentle but firm unpacking of wellness mythology, all wrapped up like a properly made bed in cotton and cashmere.
If you have ever rocked a baby at 2am, woken at 3am in perimenopause, bought a wellness gadget at midnight, or wondered what your kids actually think about what you are going through, this one is for you.
Send your voice questions to onthemones@gmail.com.
Mones as in hormones. Not whinging.
Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you.
Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au