#222 Perimenopausal Mental Health with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
Release Date: 07/07/2026
#223 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
The GP Show
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni is one of Australia's leading psychiatrists and researchers specialising in women's mental health. She is the Director of the HER Centre Australia (Health, Education and Research for Women's Mental Health) and Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University. Professor Kulkarni's work focuses on mood disorders across the female lifespan, with particular attention to the neurochemical effects of reproductive hormones on brain function, including perimenopausal depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She is the developer of the Meno-D rating scale and has been a...
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#222 Perimenopausal Mental Health with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni
The GP Show
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni is one of Australia's leading psychiatrists and researchers specialising in women's mental health. She is the Director of the HER Centre Australia (Health, Education and Research for Women's Mental Health) and Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University. Professor Kulkarni's work focuses on mood disorders across the female lifespan, with particular attention to the neurochemical effects of reproductive hormones on brain function, including perimenopausal depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She is the developer of the Meno-D rating scale and has been a...
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#221 Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (MECFS) with Dr David Fineberg
The GP Show
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#220 Loose Joints, Lax Ligaments, and Liquid Gold: Musculoskeletal Medicine for Hypermobility with Dr Rob Illingworth
The GP Show
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#219 Fast Facts in Sexual and Reproductive Health with Dr Sara Whitburn
The GP Show
Dr. Sara Whitburn is the Medical Director of Sexual Health Victoria, Chair of the RACGP Sexual and Reproductive Health Special Interest Group, and a Senior Lecturer in Sexual Health at the University of Melbourne. Her clinical and advocacy interests span STIs, unplanned pregnancy, genital health, menopause care, and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) training. She is passionate about supporting health professionals to deliver great sexual and reproductive healthcare and enabling equitable access to care for patients. Connect with the RACGP Sexual and Reproductive Health Special...
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#218 Workers' Compensation with Greg Spinda
The GP Show
Ever found yourself staring at a workers' compensation or insurance form, pen in hand, quietly wondering what on earth you're supposed to write in half these boxes? You're in good company. Most of us learned this stuff the same way, watching someone else do it, nodding along, and then absolutely winging it the moment we were left alone with a patient and a certificate to fill in. Yes, we know, workers' compensation and insurance sounds about as thrilling as a mandatory compliance training video. But stick with us. Dr Rob Park sits down with Greg Spinda, specialist personal injury lawyer...
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The GP Show
Dr Sama Balasubramanian is a General Practitioner and Sexual Health Physician, Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine and Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine. He holds an Advanced Masters in Psychosexual Health and is Chair of the Training Committee in Sexual Health Medicine for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He is also a Senior Lecturer and Rural Academic Coordinator at the Rural Clinical School, Australian National University School of Medicine and Psychology. In this episode we discuss men's sexual health and dysfunction –...
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#216 Climate and Health in General Practice: Practical Approaches for Clinicians with Dr Kate Wylie
The GP Show
In this episode of The GP Show, Dr Ashlea Broomfield and Dr Kate Wylie explore why climate change is a pressing human health issue and what it means for general practice. Throughout the discussion, Dr Wylie explains how changing environments affect our patients and the way we practice medicine, as well as how clinics can operate more sustainably. Dr Kate Wylie is an Adelaide based GP and the executive director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), a not-for-profit advocacy organisation that recognises that human health depends upon a healthy environment. Dr Wylie is the...
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#215 GLP-1 agonists in Obesity Management with Dr Terri-Lynne South
The GP Show
Dr Terri-Lynne South is a dual-qualified GP and Accredited Practising Dietitian and Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Obesity Management Group, with over 25 years of clinical experience in metabolic health, diabetes, cardiovascular risk, menopause and weight management. As founder and medical director of Lifestyle Metabolic, she champions a holistic care model grounded in multidisciplinary collaboration and personalised clinical decision-making. ... If you would like to request a topic, please contact us via Thank you for listening and your support. ... Study and learn...
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#214 Doctors, Dragons, and Delirious laughter with Dungeon Master Dr Chris Timms
The GP Show
Medicine is serious work — but that doesn’t mean doctors can’t have fun. In this special episode of The GP Show, Drs Rob Park, Ash Broomfield, and Sam Manger get together to put the guidelines down, pick the dice up, and step into the wonderful world of Doctors and Dragons. Joined by GP and Game Master Dr Chris Timms, they swap consult rooms for a fantasy adventure filled with goblins, laughter, and questionable decision-making. They clearly have no idea what they are doing - so have a listen if you've ever been curious what dungeons and dragons is as expert Dr Chris Timms adds a guiding...
info_outlineProfessor Jayashri Kulkarni is one of Australia's leading psychiatrists and researchers specialising in women's mental health. She is the Director of the HER Centre Australia (Health, Education and Research for Women's Mental Health) and Professor of Psychiatry at Monash University. Professor Kulkarni's work focuses on mood disorders across the female lifespan, with particular attention to the neurochemical effects of reproductive hormones on brain function, including perimenopausal depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She is the developer of the Meno-D rating scale and has been a leading voice for over four decades in the recognition and treatment of hormone-related mental illness in women.
In this episode, Dr. Ashlea Broomfield speaks with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni about the mental health impact of perimenopause. They discuss the role of oestrogen and progesterone as neurosteroids influencing mood, cognition, and behaviour; why mood symptoms often precede vasomotor changes by years; which women are most at risk and why; the distinct clinical profile of perimenopausal depression and how to avoid common misdiagnoses; and how to approach hormonal treatment in practice (including contraceptive options, transdermal oestradiol, micronised progesterone, and tibolone) alongside a review of the evidence around MHT safety.
RESOURCES
- "The primary care management of perimenopausal depression" — Kulkarni J et al. Australian Journal of General Practice 2026;55(4). Read here
- HER Centre Australia — Research, clinical resources, and the Meno-D scale: monash.edu/medicine/her-centre
- Meno-D rating scale — Available via HER Centre Australia and as an appendix in the AJGP article above
- Healthy Hormones — GP-led community, resources, and webinars: healthyhormones.au
- Australasian Menopause Society — Evidence-based guidelines and resources: menopause.org.au
- Monash University women's mental health short course — Via HER Centre Australia (
- PMDD companion episode — The GP Show with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni (link once live)
- Fast Facts in Sexual and Reproductive Health with Dr. Sara Whitburn — The GP Show
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Introduction, Welcome to Country, guest bio
03:40 — Reproductive hormones as brain neurosteroids: neurochemical effects of oestrogen and progesterone across the perimenopausal transition
12:19 — Risk factors for perimenopausal mood sensitivity: early life trauma, the HPA/HPG axis, and recognising hormonal sensitivity in clinical history
24:28 — Diagnostic considerations: the Meno-D scale, distinguishing perimenopausal depression from MDD and bipolar disorder, and current gaps in psychiatric classification
37:29 — MHT safety: reviewing the 2001 WHI study, absolute and relative contraindications, and monitoring in practice
45:33 — Treatment approaches: hormonal contraception, transdermal oestradiol, micronised progesterone, tibolone, and tailoring to the individual
59:16 — Further resources and preview of the PMDD companion episode
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