How Hormones Affect ADHD in Women

Hormones play a powerful—and often overlooked—role in how ADHD shows up across a woman’s lifespan. In this episode of All Things ADHD, Dara Abraham, DO, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in adult ADHD, unpacks how hormonal shifts from puberty through
perimenopause and menopause can affect focus, mood, energy, and medication response. Dr. Abraham explains the interplay between estrogen, progesterone, and key brain chemicals, why ADHD is often missed or misunderstood in girls and women, and why symptoms may intensify at certain points in the menstrual cycle or later in life. The conversation also explores practical, evidence-based strategies for managing ADHD during hormonal transitions, including treatment
adjustments, self-advocacy, and lifestyle supports—offering insight for women who have ADHD, parents of girls and adolescents with ADHD, and clinicians alike.

 

Dara Abraham, DO, is a board-certified psychiatrist who focuses on adult ADHD and mental health advocacy. She is in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her expertise and insights have been showcased in articles, podcasts, and conferences, where she works tirelessly to promote awareness and deepen understanding of ADHD and related conditions.

This episode is sponsored by Otsuka. Discover more at Otsuka-us.com/CNS.