Can Your Hormones Affect ADHD Symptoms?

Yes, They Can.

Have you noticed your ADHD symptoms seem to get worse during certain parts of your cycle?

Or maybe you’re wondering if your hormones are making you feel a little... ADHD-ish?

You're not alone.

It turns out researchers used to believe you either had ADHD or you didn’t—no in-between. But when they started studying the menstrual cycle (and even perimenopause), they realized something women have known all along:

Changing hormones absolutely play a role.

Cue the collective eye-roll from women everywhere.

Historically, ADHD research focused predominantly on boys and men. But now that more women are finally being included in studies, researchers are uncovering all kinds of additional information—especially when it comes to how hormonal shifts impact symptoms.

The Research: What Happens Across the Menstrual Cycle

In a recent study, researchers followed 97 college-aged women across their entire menstrual cycles. Most already had an ADHD diagnosis, but the goal was to see if their symptoms changed depending on their hormone phase—during their period, the follicular phase, and the luteal phase.

Spoiler alert: they did.

• Just before and during their periods (the classic PMS week), women reported significantly more inattention and impulsivity.

• Around ovulation, ADHD symptoms worsened slightly as well, though not as dramatically.

This isn’t surprising when you understand what’s happening hormonally:

• Right before and during menstruation, estradiol and progesterone take a nosedive.

• Just before ovulation, estradiol surges—and then drops—while luteinizing hormone (LH) spikes to trigger the release of the egg.

In short: your brain is riding a hormonal roller coaster. 🎢

What’s Really Driving the Shift?

Researchers believe the brain’s sensitivity to dropping estradiol is a major culprit.

When estradiol falls, women may feel more distractible, impulsive, overwhelmed, or emotional. (Sound familiar?) And this pattern may also explain why women going through perimenopause—a time of overall estradiol decline—report worsening ADHD symptoms or even experience symptoms for the first time.

In fact, many women who never had an official ADHD diagnosis earlier in life report classic ADHD symptoms like:

• Overwhelm

• Procrastination

• Brain fog

• Poor time management

• Emotional dysregulation

It’s not in your head (well... actually it is, but you know what I mean).

ADHD, Hormones, and the Diagnostic Gap

Right now, part of the formal criteria for diagnosing ADHD states that symptoms must have been present before the age of 12.

But given what we're learning about the powerful impact of hormones on attention, mood, and executive function, I’m curious (and hopeful) if that definition will evolve.

Yes, adults can absolutely be diagnosed with ADHD—but under current guidelines, they must still show evidence of early childhood symptoms. Which gets complicated if your brain was managing just fine until hormones decided to flip the table.

The Bottom Line

If you feel like your ADHD symptoms (or ADHD-adjacent symptoms) get worse during certain parts of your cycle—or have flared up during perimenopause—you’re not making it up.

Hormonal shifts, especially drops in estradiol, can impact brain function, focus, and emotional regulation.

And honestly?

The more we study women’s brains, hormones, and life experiences, the more complete—and compassionate—the conversation around ADHD will finally become.

You deserve support and answers, whatever stage of life you're in. 🩷