Carolina Saldarriaga, FEM FAE

Charting the Transition: Exploring the Intersection of Matrescence and the Symptothermal Method

Carolina holds a degree in Political Science with a minor in Journalism from the University of Los Andes. She worked as a social project coordinator at Fundación Corona until 2015, when she moved to Panama. Since 2014, Carolina has practiced the symptothermal method and certified as a Fertility Awareness Educator by Fertility Education and Medical Management (FEMM) in 2019. In 2023, she expanded her expertise by becoming a facilitator of the Australian Mama Rising model, which specializes in the transition to motherhood (matrescence). She currently also works as a Medical Assistant for the FEMM Telehealth team. As the founder of Tus Reglas, she has transformed the lives of over 600 students through her courses. Her mission is to support women and adolescents in reconnecting with their bodies, understanding their menstrual cycles as allies, and making informed decisions about their well-being. A passionate advocate for women’s health, Carolina specializes in breaking down complex concepts into simple, practical explanations, creating a safe space to explore intimate topics that invite reflection and personal transformation. What We’ll Explore The transition into motherhood—known as matrescence—is a profound and often underestimated developmental shift that encompasses physical, emotional, hormonal, social, and spiritual transformation. Despite its depth, many women enter this phase unprepared, without the tools or language to understand the changes they are experiencing. Fertility Awareness Educators are uniquely positioned to support this journey, yet this intersection remains largely unexplored within our field. In this presentation, I will explore how the symptothermal method can become a powerful ally during matrescence, helping women stay connected to their bodies, navigate postpartum cycles, reclaim autonomy, and foster self-understanding during a time often marked by disorientation and identity shifts. Drawing from my experience as a certified FEMM educator and a trained facilitator in the Mama Rising™ framework—a model developed in Australia to support women through matrescence—I will share insights, tools, and strategies to integrate body literacy education with the emotional and psychological needs of new mothers. We will discuss how tracking biomarkers can provide a sense of continuity, how cycle awareness supports emotional regulation and identity reconstruction, and how