The Intersection of Perimenopause & Matrescence
- Amy Simpson
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
In Australia, nearly 60% of births in 2022 were to women aged 30–39, indicating that a significant number of mothers may already be experiencing the early hormonal changes associated with reproductive ageing. This means that many women are navigating the early stages of perimenopause while also entering matrescence or actively engaging in early motherhood.
Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause and is best described by ovarian ageing using both menstrual changes and hormonal markers across the lifespan. Underlying hormonal changes often begin well before noticeable changes in menstrual cycles. Some educators and women’s health advocates, such as Jane Hardwicke Collings of the School of Shamanic Womancraft, refer to this transitional time as Sagescence, a sacred journey between the archetypes of Mother and Menopause, inviting a deeper understanding of the physiological, emotional, and spiritual changes that unfold during this phase of life.
There is a growing recognition and appreciation of women’s experiences, particularly the transition into motherhood known as matrescence. This shift is being supported not only through cultural awareness but also through scientific inquiry. The fields of neuroscience and epigenetics are increasingly offering the language and evidence to articulate the vital role of the mother-infant dyad and the central importance of mothers in advancing both individual and planetary wellbeing.
“Childbirth brings about a series of very dramatic changes in the new mother’s physical being, in her emotional life, in her status within the group, even in her own female identity. I distinguish this period of transition from others by terming it matrescence to emphasize the mother..” Anthropologist Dana Raphael, The Tender Gift: Breastfeeding (1973)
Matrescence and Maternal Age in Australia
Today, most women are entering matrescence later in life than previous generations. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, most births in 2022 were to women aged 30–34, with nearly 60% of all births occurring among women in their 30s.
This means a growing number of women are navigating the transition into motherhood while also approaching or entering perimenopause. These dual transitions of matrescence and perimenopause can intersect and amplify each other, both physically and emotionally.
But, there are well-documented benefits to having children later in life. Research links older maternal age to better language development, fewer emotional difficulties, and higher cognitive outcomes in children. Older mothers often feel more emotionally prepared, patient, and secure in their parenting role, and are more likely to describe their partners as supportive.
Matrescence, Perimenopause, and the Neurological Transitions of Motherhood
Both matrescence and perimenopause are periods of profound neurological change, comparable to adolescence in terms of brain plasticity and hormonal shifts.
Parenting is not purely instinctual. Maternal functioning is shaped by changes in brain structure and function. During pregnancy and postpartum, specialised neural circuits undergo synaptic pruning and rewiring in response to hormonal, sensory, and cognitive input. These changes support caregiving behaviours, which are then reinforced by the brain’s reward systems.
Perimenopause also brings neurological change. As oestrogen declines, it disrupts brain systems involved in sleep, memory, and sensory processing. This can lead to a temporary hypometabolic state in the brain and may contribute to symptoms like insomnia, mood changes, and anxiety.
These transitions increase vulnerability to poor brain health and mental health conditions. Understanding the neurological nature of these life stages is essential to better supporting yourself through these incredible transitions.
Honouring the changing seasons of womanhood
The intersection of matrescence and perimenopause is a unique window of neuroendocrine change that deserves informed, personalised care. Understanding the neurological and hormonal transitions of matrescence and perimenopause can be the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling empowered.
If you’re ready to make sense of your changing body, restore balance, and support your long-term health, I’d love to help you navigate these portals with evidence-based naturopathic care and traditional wisdom. Book a naturopathy appointment today and take the next step toward thriving through motherhood and beyond.
