ADDitude: The Menstrual Cycle and ADHD

What do fluctuating hormones across the menstrual cycle mean for my ADHD symptoms and treatment? What do I need to know, and what should I expect?

For girls, women, and naturally cycling individuals with ADHD, fluctuating estrogen and progesterone across the menstrual cycle invariably impact ADHD symptoms, emotions, and functioning. We know this to be true, but there is almost no research validating this relationship. So, we arrive at this conclusion using available research on how hormonal changes affect the body, along with anecdotal information and clinical observations of patients with ADHD.