ADHD in women’s health : the impact of hormonal transitions across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and the postpartum period

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in women is shaped by hormonal transitions across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. Fluctuations in oestradiol and progesterone influence dopaminergic function, executive control, and emotional regulation, producing phase-dependent variation in symptoms and treatment response. Adolescence is characterised by heightened neuroendocrine sensitivity, pregnancy by heterogeneous clinical trajectories, and the postpartum period by oestrogen withdrawal, sleep disruption, and increased psychiatric vulnerability. Evidence supports phase-sensitive assessment, individualised pharmacological and behavioural management, and early reproductive planning. Longitudinal research integrating neuroendocrine, clinical, and functional outcomes is required to guide evidence-based care for women with ADHD across the reproductive lifespan.