Women with ADHD are talking about this viral phenomenon and science is backing them up

Many women living with ADHD have noticed that their symptoms are not always the same throughout the month. For many of them, the days before their period are associated with increased distraction, difficulty focusing, anxiety, and the feeling that daily routines become much more difficult to manage. Now, a new study is shedding light on the reasons that may lie behind this phenomenon.

A team of researchers from King's College London and Queen Mary University of London asked 50 women with ADHD, who were taking medication, to record their menstrual cycles, changes in their symptoms and the impact these had on their daily lives. The aim was to understand whether hormonal changes are linked to how ADHD manifests.

Layla, one of the women interviewed by the BBC , has a telling experience. She says she organises her day with alarms on her phone because it's the only way she can get things done. However, during certain phases of her menstrual cycle, even this method no longer works.

"It's like trying to keep a ball rolling and you feel like you can't control it anymore," she says, describing the frustration she feels when symptoms worsen.

According to researchers, this may be related to the drop in estrogen levels before menstruation. When estrogen drops, dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in concentration, motivation, and impulsivity control, is also affected. As a result, ADHD symptoms can become more intense and, in some cases, the effect of medications can also change.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Jessica Agnew-Blais, says this is among the first studies to specifically focus on the link between ADHD and the menstrual cycle. For many years, she says, the field has been neglected due to the misconception that ADHD primarily affects boys and does not persist into adulthood.

Experts hope that these findings will help develop more personalized treatments and strategies for women with ADHD, also taking into account the impact of hormonal changes during the month.

However, it's important to note that not every woman with ADHD will experience symptoms in the same way. If you notice that your concentration, mood, or treatment response regularly fluctuates during certain phases of your menstrual cycle, experts recommend discussing this with your doctor or psychiatrist. Keeping a diary of your symptoms and cycle can help identify patterns and adjust your treatment as needed.