Why we urgently need more research for relating to ADHD, hormones, and women's health
When we talk about ADHD in women, particularly those in their late thirties, forties, and fifties, it becomes clear that the intersection of ADHD, hormones, and midlife is one of the most misunderstood and under researched areas of women’s health. Yet the need for clear, accurate, and evidence-based information is greater than ever. Many women receive an ADHD diagnosis for the first time in midlife, often during the perimenopause. Others recognise familiar patterns only after supporting a neurodivergent child.
Despite this growing demand, the current research base remains limited. Several recent papers emphasise that hormonal interactions and their impact on ADHD symptoms in girls and women are still poorly understood and urgently need systematic investigation (Kooij et al., 2025; Osianlis et al., 2025).
This does not mean we are starting from nothing. It means we can see the patterns, understand some of the potential mechanisms, and recognise that the available evidence does not yet reflect the complexity of women’s lived experience.
In this blog I outline what we know, what the research currently shows, why it matters, where the gaps are, and the areas that urgently need more attention.
Why up to date research matters
High quality and current research is not an academic luxury. It directly shapes how women are recognised, assessed, supported, and understood.
It reflects current understanding rather than outdated assumptions
Historically, ADHD research focused on boys and young men. This influenced diagnostic criteria and clinical expectations for decades. Modern reviews highlight that hormonal interactions, emotional regulation, and executive functioning may look different in girls and women, and that these differences have often been excluded from studies (Kooij et al., 2025).
It improves clinical safety and decision making
Hormonal transitions influence attention, mood, sleep, memory, and emotional regulation. Systematic reviews suggest that oestrogen and progesterone fluctuations can interact with dopamine and other neurotransmitters involved in ADHD, which may intensify symptoms during certain phases of the menstrual cycle or life stages such as perimenopause (Osianlis et al., 2025; Eng et al., 2024).
It validates lived experience
Women frequently report that their ADHD traits shift around the menstrual cycle, worsen in the late luteal phase, and become more challenging during perimenopause and menopause. Recent work shows that ADHD symptoms appear to fluctuate with hormonal change across puberty and the menstrual cycle (Eng et al., 2024; Psychiatry Advisor, 2025).
It reduces stigma and misinformation
Robust evidence challenges the unhelpful narrative that women are simply overwhelmed, poorly organised, or not trying hard enough. Research reframes these difficulties as rooted in neurobiology and hormonal context rather than personal shortcomings.
What the current research shows
Although still developing, recent studies have highlighted consistent patterns across hormonal stages. Most of the available evidence falls into three main types.
1. Survey based and questionnaire studies
These studies often involve large numbers of women and provide valuable insight into real world experiences.
Survey work shows that women with ADHD traits have a significantly higher risk of PMDD, even after adjusting for other factors (Tsuji et al., 2025; Karmakar, 2025). Other research indicates that women with PMDD are more likely to have comorbid ADHD and score higher on inattention measures across the cycle (Lin et al., 2024).
Self report data also shows that many women with ADHD experience worsening symptoms during perimenopause and menopause, including difficulties with memory, concentration, and mood (Newson, 2025; Berkshire Healthcare NHS, 2022).
Strengths: captures lived experience, large samples
Limitations: self report bias, cannot establish cause and effect
2. Cross sectional and population based studies
These compare groups at a single point in time or use large registry data.
A Swedish nationwide cohort study found that women with ADHD had a significantly increased risk of postpartum depression and anxiety compared with women without ADHD (Andersson et al., 2023). Other work suggests that parental ADHD in the postpartum period is associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety in parents (Johnson et al., 2025).
Cross sectional studies of midlife women show that menopausal difficulties increase in line with the severity of ADHD traits, particularly around mood, memory, and concentration (Chapman et al., 2025; Wasserstein et al., 2023).
Strengths: large datasets, clear group comparisons
Limitations: cannot track symptom change over time
3. Clinical and review papers
Clinical reviews and expert papers integrate multiple findings and highlight potential mechanisms.
Recent reviews emphasise that hormonal interactions across puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause are under investigated in females with ADHD (Kooij et al., 2025). Systematic reviews also highlight that fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone seem to influence ADHD symptoms, but that existing studies are small and fragmented (Osianlis et al., 2025).
Maternal mental health organisations and menopause specialists emphasise that neurodivergence is still poorly represented in perinatal and menopausal care, even though women with ADHD appear to be at increased risk of distress during these stages (Maternal Mental Health Alliance, 2025; Newson, 2025).
Strengths: integrates multiple sources, identifies patterns
Limitations: dependent on the quality of available research
The problems with the current evidence base
Even with these promising studies, the limitations are significant.
Most studies are small or use convenience samples.
Very few studies follow women over time, leaving major gaps in understanding the trajectories of ADHD symptoms across hormonal stages (Kooij et al., 2025).
Women remain under-represented in ADHD research overall.
Late diagnosed women are rarely included, despite being a large proportion of those seeking support.
Perimenopause and ADHD are especially under studied, with only a small number of dedicated papers (Chapman et al., 2025; Wasserstein et al., 2023).
Postnatal mental health and ADHD is poorly understood, though early evidence shows elevated risk (Andersson et al., 2023; Johnson et al., 2025).
Almost no research explores the effect of HRT on ADHD symptoms, despite strong clinical interest (Newson, 2025; Berkshire Healthcare NHS, 2022).
The areas where we urgently need more research
From both clinical and lived experience perspectives, several priority areas stand out.
ADHD and perimenopause
We need large, well designed studies that follow women with and without ADHD through the perimenopause transition and track symptom patterns over time (Wasserstein et al., 2023).
ADHD and postnatal depression and anxiety
We need clear understanding of risk factors, protective factors, and pathways for support (Andersson et al., 2023; Johnson et al., 2025).
ADHD and PMDD or severe premenstrual symptoms
Emerging studies suggest a strong link, but we need investigation into mechanisms and treatment adjustments (Lin et al., 2024; Tsuji et al., 2025).
ADHD, sleep, and hormonal change
Sleep disruption is common in the postpartum period and perimenopause, yet rarely examined in these studies.
The impact of HRT on ADHD symptoms
We need structured research on how different HRT preparations influence mood, cognition, and attention in women with ADHD (Newson, 2025; Berkshire Healthcare NHS, 2022).
Women who suspect ADHD but are not yet diagnosed
This large group is almost completely missing from the research, yet their experiences are essential for service design and clinical pathways.
Why this research matters for women’s long term health
Without stronger evidence, women risk:
delayed or missed diagnosis
being given generic advice that does not reflect the interaction between ADHD and hormones
receiving conflicting or inaccurate information about medication and HRT
experiencing unnecessary confusion, shame, or self blame
prolonged or preventable mental health difficulties
Better research directly shapes diagnosis, care, workplace support, and public understanding. It ensures women receive the recognition and support they need at the right time.
References
Additude Magazine (2025) ‘Menopause symptoms exacerbate ADHD in women’, Additude, 23 June.
ADHDevidence.org (2023) ‘Swedish nationwide population study finds mothers with ADHD have elevated risk of depression and anxiety disorders after childbirth’.
Andersson, A., Pettersson, E., Larsson, H. and Lichtenstein, P. (2023) ‘Depression and anxiety disorders during the postpartum period in women diagnosed with ADHD’, Journal of Affective Disorders, 325, pp. 817–823.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (2022) ADHD and the menopause.
Chapman, L., Bruton, C. and Cowley, J. (2025) ‘Examining the link between ADHD symptoms and menopausal experiences’, Journal of Attention Disorders, advance online publication.
de Jong, M., Bekker, M. and Geurts, H. (2023) ‘Female specific pharmacotherapy in ADHD’, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1306194.
Eng, A.G., Kahan, J. and Mowlem, F. (2024) ‘Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the menstrual cycle’, Hormones and Behavior, advance online publication.
Johnson, D., Stewart, M. and Allen, K. (2025) ‘Associations between self reported ADHD symptoms and depression and anxiety among parents in the postpartum period’, Journal of Affective Disorders, advance online publication.
Karmakar, S. (2025) ‘New research highlights the increased risk of PMDD in women with ADHD’, National Elf Service, 23 June.
Kooij, J.J.S., Asherson, P., Bramer, W. and Buitelaar, J. (2025) ‘Research advances and future directions in female ADHD’, Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 6, 1613628.
Lin, P.C., Chen, Y., Wu, C. and Huang, M. (2024) ‘Comorbid ADHD in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder’, Journal of Women’s Health, advance online publication.
Maternal Mental Health Alliance (2025) ‘ADHD and perinatal mental health: breaking the silence for neurodivergent mothers’.
Newson, L. (2025) ‘ADHD and hormones in women’, Balance Menopause, 1 May.
Osianlis, E., Taylor, A. and Sabeen, S. (2025) ‘ADHD and sex hormones in females: a systematic review’, Journal of Women’s Health, advance online publication.
Psychiatry Advisor (2025) ‘ADHD symptoms in women fluctuate with hormonal changes’, Psychiatry Advisor, 28 July.
Tsuji, R., Sato, H. and Nakamura, M. (2025) ‘Association of ADHD and autism spectrum traits with premenstrual disorders’, Journal of Psychiatric Research, advance online publication.
Wasserstein, J., Hulst, M. and McLaughlin, J. (2023) ‘Perimenopause, menopause and ADHD’, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 29(S1), p. 2.