Each menstrual cycle brings hormonal peaks and valleys that significantly influence ADHD symptoms. Our recent research confirms that anxiety, mood, and attention all worsen as estrogen falls during the luteal phase.
As this hormone climbs again in the follicular phase, risk for substance use rises along with it.1We know that hormones collide with ADHD to cause heightened mood dysregulation, memory problems, and impulsivity each month, but we don’t know how hormonal transitions over a lifetime impact ADHD symptoms, comorbid conditions, and treatment outcomes.
We don’t yet see the big picture of how symptoms manifest during different reproductive stages because research is scant and leaves more questions than answers.
Here are four high-priority areas in need of study and advancement.When conducting assessments, clinicians should ask about patients’ reproductive events (e.g., puberty, pregnancy/postpartum, menopause) and hormonal profiles (e.g., menstrual cycle phase, use of hormonal medications and contraceptives).