Very few studies have been done to determine how ageing affects different neurotypes, but we do know that camouflaging or masking is a frequent aspect of being autistic, and that women appear to do so more than men for social and cultural reasons.

As perimenopausal characteristics can sometimes be intense and uncomfortable, autistic perimenopausal women can be at even greater risk of autism-associated reduced lifespan, elevated suicidality, high stress levels, and incidence of chronic illness.

Masking, or camouflaging, is a characteristic of autism, and is highly prevalent in autistic women and girls. It means to purposefully, or subconsciously, display behaviour that is thought to be neurotypical in order to conceal the autistic person’s authentic behaviour.