Hormones

Hormonal Impact on ADHD symptoms

Understanding hormones and their impact on females during different life stages is crucial, as hormonal fluctuations significantly influence physical health, mental well-being and conditions like ADHD, especially during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

ADHD often presents differently in males and females, with males more likely to exhibit externalised behaviours such as physical hyperactivity, impulsivity, and disruptive tendencies, which are more easily recognised and diagnosed. In contrast, females are more likely to display less visible, internalised behaviours, including attentional difficulties, emotional dysregulation, and less obvious hyperactivity, such as fidgeting, restlessness, or excessive talking.

This subtler presentation in females often leads to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis, as their symptoms can be mistaken for anxiety, depression, or simply being "overly emotional" or "daydreamy." These differences highlight the need for gender-sensitive approaches to understanding and diagnosing ADHD.

Understanding the interplay between estrogen, progesterone, and neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine, is essential for recognising how hormonal fluctuations influence a woman’s mental health and cognitive functioning throughout her life. These hormones and neurotransmitters are intricately linked, with estrogen known to enhance dopamine and serotonin activity, while progesterone can have a dampening or modulating effect.

As hormone levels shift across puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause, the delicate balance of serotonin and dopamine is affected, influencing mood, emotional regulation, energy levels and attentional capacity. For women with ADHD, or other neurodivergent conditions, these hormonal changes can amplify symptoms, making it critical to consider this hormonal-neurotransmitter interaction when providing support, diagnosis and treatment across the female life course.

A striking 99% of females in our survey reported experiencing sleep and stress issues, regardless of whether they had hormonal concerns or not. This highlights the pervasive nature of sleep and stress challenges among women but also underscores the need to examine the complex relationship between these factors and hormonal fluctuations.

Hormones, sleep and stress- the link

Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and cortisol are key regulators of the body’s stress response and sleep patterns, and disruptions in these systems can exacerbate both stress and sleep difficulties. However, given that such challenges are nearly universal, it’s clear that other factors—like lifestyle, societal pressures and mental health—also play a significant role. This data points to the importance of addressing sleep and stress management holistically, considering both hormonal and non-hormonal contributors to improve women’s well-being.

Hormonal fluctuations and link to addictive or problematic behaviours

In our survey, we found a compelling link between hormonal fluctuations, ADHD, and addictive behaviours, with individuals in this group demonstrating 2.4 times higher rates of addiction compared to their peers. Substances such as sugar, hyperpalatable foods and alcohol were identified as the most commonly misused, reflecting a tendency to self-soothe or regulate emotions through external means. Furthermore, behavioural addictions—such as excessive phone use, compulsive spending, disordered eating and workaholism—emerged as particularly significant in this population.

This correlation underscores the complex interplay between hormonal imbalances, ADHD traits like impulsivity and emotional dysregulation and the development of maladaptive coping mechanisms. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions that address not only hormonal and neurodevelopmental challenges but also provide support for healthier coping strategies and addiction prevention.