https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/murrumba-downs-QLD-4503/castle-hill-medical-centre-murrumba-downs/doctors/dr-e

Pause Lumiere, Castle Hill Medical Centre, Murrumba Downs (2026)

16/12/2025

👩🏼‍🏫 can start WELL before your 50s

Too often women come to me having been told you’re too young for Perimenopause, or that it’s not possible because their hormone blood test was normal.

This misinformation leads to so much unnecessary suffering. We empower women with education, so that there is a demand for better healthcare.

Visit Pause Lumiere to take charge of your perimenopause symptoms. We can’t wait to meet you! ✨

07/12/2025

Meet Pause Lumiere … she’s doing a giveaway just in time for Christmas!

My long term plans for a medical centre and wanting a cohesive brand have meant a pivot. Lumiere is for women, by women.

Pause Lumiere will continue to function as The Pause Clinic did, with some colour changes and a new website. The same applies for Pause Cosmetic Medicine, which is now Aesthetics Lumiere. Keep your eyes peeled for new brochures and business cards soon!

To celebrate the rebrand, I’m giving away a & pack to 2 people. The winners will be picked at random & you can enter as many times as you like!

Each pack contains a LBF shampoo & conditioner and a three pack of creams, as well as 2 Rationale Radiance Booster Serums - pack RRP $400.

1 comment with a tag = 1 entry
1 share to your story = 2 entries

Tag & share as many times as you want to increase your entries!

In addition, a different pack is available to whoever spots a grammatical or spelling error on my website first - containing a voucher, LBF cream and a Radiance serum. There’s only so much proof-reading my eyes can do!
Website link is in my bio!

Competition closes 21st December & prizes will be posted before Christmas.

Thank you all for giving me the best job in the world x

06/11/2025

Estrogen and blood pressure
If there’s a disease that makes me quick to treat, it’s hypertension. High blood pressure has been minimised, partly because it’s common — but it is one of the major risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, heart attack and stroke. It also increases the risk of kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and vision loss.

The old cut-off of 140/90 is too high. To reduce risk, blood pressure should be closer to ~120/80.

Estrogen supports blood vessels by increasing nitric oxide and maintaining flexibility in vessel walls. As estrogen fluctuates and declines in perimenopause, vessels become stiffer, salt sensitivity rises, and stress hormones have a stronger effect. This is why blood pressure often climbs during perimenopause and after menopause, especially when sleep is poor, exercises reduces and central weight gain occurs. Sleep is incredibly protective for hypertension!

Before menopause, women typically have lower blood pressure than men. After menopause, blood pressure rises sharply — and by 60–70, women are more likely than men to have hypertension.

Hypertension usually has no symptoms. “White-coat” hypertension isn’t benign either — a 24-hour monitor is the best way to assess true blood pressure patterns.

Starting hormone therapy within ten years of menopause may help maintain vascular health, particularly in the absence of other major risk factors. Transdermal estrogen with micronised progesterone has been shown to slightly reduce blood pressure in some women.

Treating hypertension is not a failure, it’s a decision about longevity and disease prevention. Lifestyle is very important as well: sleep, nutrition, strength training, nervous system support, hormone therapy, and medication are all tools.

If you’re interested in reducing your risk of disease long term, visit the pause clinic. We can’t wait to meet you!

29/10/2025

Brain fog in perimenopause is not joke and you’re not imagining it. Up to two-thirds of women experience cognitive changes, often described as “foggy thinking,” word-finding issues, or forgetfulness.
Multiple factors contribute to brain fog:
- Fluctuating estrogen levels affect brain regions involved in memory, attention, and processing speed. Neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, noradrenaline and dopamine are affected.
- Other symptoms compound the problem — sleep disruption, night sweats, mood changes, and chronic stress
- Perimenopause also coincides with high life load, which increases the mental load on women

These changes are typically temporary and non-progressive, meaning they’re not a risk (that we know of yet) from dementia or neurodegenerative disease - but they can definitely feel like it!! Temporary is also a tricky word … it’s not forever but even a few months can significantly impact quality of life.

There are some evidence-based ways to support cognition include: - Regular physical activity – aerobic and strength training improve brain blood flow and neuroplasticity. - Optimising sleep improves memory and concentration. - Stress management – mindfulness, therapy, and relaxation techniques reduce cognitive load. - Structured supports – lists, reminders, and routine reduce working memory strain. - A Mediterranean-style diet rich in fish, olive oil, vegetables, and whole grains supports brain health. - Hormone therapy – can hugely reduce brain fog both directly and also indirectly by reducing sleep disturbance, anxiety, and vasomotor symptoms
-A medical review for other possible contributing factors like thyroid and nutritional deficiencies
- Creatine!

Cognitive changes during perimenopause are real, common, and reversible for most women. Addressing contributing factors and optimising overall health can significantly improve clarity and focus. If you’re experiencing brain fog, visit the Pause clinic. We can’t wait to meet you!

10/10/2025

20 years is too long.

Too long for women to be told it’s anxiety.
Too long for brain fog and night sweats to be shrugged off as “just getting older.”
Too long for menopause care to be left behind while every other field of medicine moves forward.

We can edit genes, grow organs in labs, robots can drive —
but we still treat menopause like it’s a mystery or an after-thought.

Women deserve care that reflects today’s science and technology. Luckily, is here to deliver a patch for women, by women. Something much better than what’s on the market - outdated, decade old choices. Follow along & lend your support!

10/10/2025

Women’s risk of heart disease starts to rise in Perimenopause, and as a leading cause of death, it’s worth us considering all options to mitigate this risk. Meet Omega-3!!

Omega-3 fats are essential for heart, brain, and metabolic health. They help lower triglycerides, improve blood vessel function, support nerve and brain health, and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Omega-3s work by producing compounds called resolvins and protectins, which actively switch off inflammation and promote tissue repair. In contrast, omega-6 fats — common in processed foods and seed oils — drive the production of inflammatory molecules. Both types of fat are essential, but balance matters.

Clinically, omega-3s have been shown to: • Lower triglycerides and improve cardiovascular outcomes  • Reduce platelet stickiness, improving circulation • Enhance brain cell membrane fluidity to support cognition, mood, and attention • Decrease inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), helping conditions like arthritis and autoimmune disease • Improve insulin sensitivity and reduce liver fat accumulation

Historically, humans consumed an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio around 2:1; today, most Western diets sit closer to 15–20:1, favouring inflammation. Improving this ratio means increasing omega-3 foods and reducing processed foods & processed seed oils like sunflower, soybean, canola, and corn.

Best omega-3 sources: • Oily fish — salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, trout • Chia seeds, flaxseeds, and walnuts (plant-based omega-3, less efficiently converted)

Tips: • Aim for 2–3 serves of oily fish weekly, or supplement with 1–3 g/day combined EPA + DHA. • Choose olive, avocado, or macadamia oil over seed oils for cooking.

Balanced omega 3 & 6 intake supports cardiovascular health, sharper thinking, better metabolic function, and healthy ageing. These are areas of health to pay particular attention to in perimenopause & post-menopause. If you’re not consuming fish on a regular basis, consider a high quality fish oil.

If you want to talk longevity & healthy ageing, visit Pause Clinic. We can’t wait to meet you!

09/10/2025

From our 30s onward, we begin to lose ~1% of muscle mass each year UNLESS we do something to prevent it. Sarcopenia may accelerate post-menopause, as estrogen plays a key role in muscle and bone maintenance.

Sarcopenia isn’t just about weakness or “not enough muscle”. It increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, frailty, cancers, dementia, obesity and falls. It’s also linked with higher all-cause mortality. Muscle is metabolically active tissue — when we lose it, the risk of chronic disease rises.

Diagnosis can be made with a combination of function and imaging. Symptom-wise, sarcopenia presents with low strength, slow gait speed, or impaired physical performance. On a DEXA scan, your appendicular lean mass index can indicate sarcopenia.

To prevent sarcopenia, maintain your metabolic health and reduce the years of your life in a nursing home, you need to consider:
- Two to three sessions per week of progressive resistance training
- Protein intake of at least 1.6 g/kg/day,
- Adequate sleep to repair & grow muscle
- Utilisation of creatine, with accumulating evidence it protects against sarcopenia and osteoporosis (PMID: 30978926)

However, all of the protein, sleep and creatine in the world won’t do much without resistance training.

Strong muscles = strong health. If you want some help getting started, visit the Pause Clinic, we can’t wait to meet you!

09/09/2025

“Alcohol can make perimenopausal symptoms worse” is not always what a woman struggling with the Pauses wants to hear! Unfortunately, this often turned to coping mechanism could be making you feel like s**t.

Hot flushes and night sweats are often more frequent and intense after drinking, as alcohol dilates blood vessels and interferes with temperature regulation.

Sleep quality is also reduced. Even small amounts fragment deep sleep, which is already more fragile in perimenopause due to fluctuating estrogen and progesterone.

Futhermore, alcohol affects mood and cognition. With hormone changes already increasing vulnerability to anxiety, low mood, and brain fog, alcohol’s impact on neurotransmitters and blood sugar can amplify these issues.

Alcohol also influences decision making. Reduced inhibition and changes in appetite control can lead to less optimal food choices and less motivation for exercise. Over time, this compounds weight gain around the abdomen and worsens low mood and fatigue.

As if this wasn’t enough, long-term, alcohol raises the risk of osteoporosis, breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease — conditions where risk already increases after menopause.

While occasional drinking may be fine for some women, reducing intake often improves symptom control, supports healthy lifestyle choices, and protects long-term health. If you can, see what a month of no alcohol feels like. You might not go back!

03/09/2025

Estrogen for HRT can be delivered orally (tablets) or transdermally (patches, gels, sprays). Both work, but how they’re absorbed — and their potential risks — differ.

Oral estrogen passes through the liver first, which increases clotting factors and triglycerides. This slightly raises the risk of blood clots and stroke, especially in women over 60–70 or with risk factors like obesity or smoking. It can also raise SHBG and lower free testosterone.

Transdermal estrogen is absorbed directly through the skin, avoiding these “first-pass” liver effects. This means no significant rise in clotting factors, triglycerides, or blood pressure. At Pause, we usually recommend this route first. However, absorption varies between women — gels can lead to faster uptake, while patches provide steadier levels.

Importantly, people’s estrogen receptors differ in sensitivity, and these are influenced by other proteins and hormones inside cells. This means two women with the same blood oestradiol level can experience very different effects. For transdermal estrogen, absorption can also be affected by skin hydration, exercise, temperature, and application site.

Symptom relief can be equivalent if dosing is optimised, but the “right” choice depends on your health history, symptoms, and preferences.

If you’d like to explore what’s best for you, visit the Pause Clinic. We can’t wait to meet you!

18/08/2025

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of inherited connective tissue disorders affecting collagen structure and function. Symptoms can include joint hypermobility, chronic pain, skin fragility, easy bruising, and autonomic dysfunction such as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).

During perimenopause, women with EDS often experience a worsening of symptoms. Declining estrogen reduces collagen production, affecting tissue elasticity and repair. This can increase joint instability, pain, and injury risk, while contributing to bladder and pelvic floor weakness.

For those with autonomic dysfunction, hormonal changes can exacerbate dizziness, palpitations, heat intolerance, and temperature dysregulation. Fluctuating estrogen and progesterone can also worsen fatigue, sleep disturbance, and exercise intolerance. Combined with vasomotor symptoms, these changes may amplify the daily impact of EDS.

Care requires an integrated approach: symptom tracking, hormonal assessment, targeted physiotherapy, autonomic nervous system management, and treatment of associated gastrointestinal or pelvic floor issues. Early and individualised menopause care can help preserve mobility, reduce pain, and improve day-to-day function.

If you have EDS and are entering perimenopause, a specialist menopause consultation can provide tailored strategies for this unique intersection of hormonal, connective tissue, and autonomic health.

Visit the Pause Clinic. We can’t wait to meet you!

15/08/2025

Is there anything worse than really sore b***s?!

Breast pain often becomes more noticeable in the 40s. During perimenopause, ovulation is less consistent; estradiol can spike unpredictably while luteal‑phase progesterone runs lower than earlier in life. Sudden estradiol peaks stimulate ductal and lobular tissue growth, increase vascular permeability, and promote sodium‑water retention within the breast, leaving tissue fuller, heavier, and more sensitive to stretch.

Transient rises in prolactin that accompany estradiol surges add to engorgement, while local inflammatory mediators (especially prostaglandins) heighten pain‑receptor sensitivity—so discomfort typically builds in the late luteal phase and eases once bleeding begins. Caffeine, stress, and high dietary fat can further raise cyclic AMP and prostaglandin production, sharpening symptoms.

Evidence‑based options to manage this include
- supportive bra’s
- simple analgesia & topical NSAID gels
- trialling reduced caffeine intake
- evening primrose oil 2-3g + vitamin D and/or flaxseed
- Regular exercise (well-supported!)

HRT may also help, though bear in mind a possible side-effect of initiation or dose increase is breast pain!

Although most cyclic mastalgia is benign, any new, focal, or persistent breast pain should be clinically assessed and imaged if indicated.

Visit the Pause Clinic soon, we can’t wait to meet you!

05/08/2025

Migraines often worsen in perimenopause—especially premenstrually or around erratic bleeds. This is often driven by falling and fluctuating estrogen, which lowers the brain’s migraine threshold by affecting serotonin, CGRP, and glutamate regulation.

Progesterone also plays a role. It stabilises GABA (the brain’s calming neurotransmitter), supports sleep, and reduces neuroinflammation. As progesterone declines in anovulatory cycles, some women lose this protective effect—triggering more frequent or severe migraines.

Many women find that migraines improve post-menopause once hormone levels stabilise. Others may continue to struggle without tailored treatment.

Transdermal estrogen and micronised progesterone can help when prescribed appropriately, and patches may be the preferred delivery as they give a steady state of estrogen compared to gels. Transdermal estrogen IS SAFE for women with migraine + aura.

To explore your symptoms and treatment options, visit the Pause Clinic. We can’t wait to meet you!

Pause Lumiere

16/12/2025

07/12/2025

06/11/2025

29/10/2025

10/10/2025

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