Hormones and ADHD in Women: PMDD History, Perimenopause, and Diagnostic Clarity
- Kiesa Kelly
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
If you have ever thought, “I’m fine for two weeks, and then everything falls apart,” you are not imagining things. Many women notice that attention, motivation, and emotional regulation shift with menstrual-cycle changes, and that these shifts can become sharper in perimenopause. Research suggests that changing estrogen levels may relate to changes in attention and other ADHD-relevant symptoms across the cycle and in midlife. [1,2]
That said, hormone sensitivity patterns do not diagnose ADHD. What they can do is strengthen diagnostic clarity by adding a timeline: when symptoms worsen, what improves, and what the pattern has looked like across years.
In this article, you’ll learn:
How cyclical “windows” of worsening symptoms can inform an ADHD assessment [2]
What PMDD history can look like (high-level, non-diagnostic) [3,4]
Why perimenopause can make executive function and mood feel less stable [6,8]
What a thorough, differential-focused evaluation typically explores [9–11]
What to track before an evaluation so you do not have to rely on memory alone
If you are in Tennessee and looking for a structured, menopause-aware evaluation, you can learn more about ScienceWorks’ approach to an online ADHD assessment for midlife women in Tennessee.
🧭 Key takeaway: Patterns across time matter. Hormones can change symptom intensity, but ADHD diagnosis depends on lifelong patterns and functional impact, not a single “bad week.” [9–11]
Why Hormone Sensitivity Patterns Matter in an ADHD Assessment
Cycles can reveal predictable “windows” of worsening symptoms
Some people notice that symptoms are not random. They track with predictable phases of the cycle, often around times when estrogen is declining. [2] Those “windows” may include:
More difficulty initiating tasks or switching between tasks
More forgetfulness, errors, or time-blindness
Lower frustration tolerance and faster emotional escalation
Across studies, declines in estrogen have been associated with increases in ADHD symptoms for some individuals, though individual differences are large and research is still developing. [2]
Patterns don’t prove ADHD, but they add useful context
A cyclical pattern can happen for multiple reasons: PMDD, perimenopause sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, burnout, thyroid issues, and more. [6,9] What the pattern can do is help an evaluator ask better questions:
Are attention challenges lifelong, or mostly new?
Do symptoms show up in more than one setting?
Do they create consistent impairment, or only during a narrow window?
If you want an example of how clinicians think about impact (not just feelings), see Menopause brain fog vs ADHD: what “counts” as impairment in an assessment.
Validating lived experience without oversimplifying
A good assessment makes room for both truths:
Your experience is real.
The brain is complex, and we should not reduce everything to “just hormones” or “definitely ADHD.”
That balance matters especially for late diagnosis ADHD women who were previously dismissed or mislabeled.
📅 Key takeaway: Hormone-linked symptom changes can be a map for assessment questions, not a shortcut to diagnosis. [2,9]
What PMDD History Can Look Like (High-Level, Non-Diagnostic)
Mood shifts tied to the luteal phase
PMDD is a depressive-disorder diagnosis in DSM-5, and diagnosis requires a specific symptom pattern and clinically significant distress or impairment. [3,4] In high-level terms, many people describe symptoms that cluster in the late luteal phase (often the days before bleeding starts) and improve after menses begins. [3]
Symptoms can include mood lability, irritability, depressed mood, anxiety/tension, and a mix of cognitive and physical symptoms, with a clear “off/on” pattern across cycles. [3,4]
Functioning drops despite strong effort
One of the most telling parts of PMDD history is the mismatch between effort and output:
You try harder and get less done
Emotional reactivity spikes over small stressors
Decision-making feels unusually difficult
This is one reason PMDD and ADHD can be confused, and also one reason PMDD and ADHD can both be true.
Why many people were dismissed or misdiagnosed
Historically, cyclic symptoms have been minimized, interpreted as “stress,” or folded into generalized anxiety or depression without a timeline. [3] Prospective tracking is
often needed to clarify the pattern. [3,4]
🧠 Key takeaway: PMDD history is not “proof” of ADHD, but it can explain why symptoms were misunderstood and why timing matters in differential diagnosis. [3,4]
How ADHD Symptoms Can Become More Obvious With Hormone Shifts
Executive function and emotional regulation feel less stable
ADHD involves patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning, typically beginning in childhood and appearing across settings. [10,11] Many women describe that they could compensate for years, and then hormone shifts made those compensations less reliable.
One proposed pathway is estrogen’s interaction with dopamine and other catecholamine systems involved in executive function and attention. [1,5] When estrogen modulation changes, some people experience more distractibility, mental inflexibility, or reduced cognitive stamina. [5]
Coping strategies stop working as reliably
In reproductive years, coping can look like:
Over-preparing
Using anxiety as fuel
Over-functioning at work and crashing at home
In perimenopause, those strategies may break down, especially when sleep and stress are in the mix. Cognitive complaints during perimenopause are common, and they can be influenced by mood symptoms and sleep disruption. [6,8]
If this resonates, you may also relate to why ADHD often shows up in your 40s: hormones, masking, and burnout.
Increased reactivity + overwhelm under stress and sleep loss
Sleep disruption can amplify both mood symptoms and ADHD-like symptoms. [6,9] Perimenopause-related sleep changes, plus work and caregiving demands, can push a previously “managed” system past capacity. [6,8]
🌙 Key takeaway: Midlife symptoms can be real even if you have always “looked fine.” The key is separating new, stage-related strain from lifelong neurodevelopmental patterns. [6,8,10,11]
What a Midlife-Savvy Assessment Will Explore
Developmental history + long-term patterns
Because ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, evaluators look for patterns that go back years, not only a recent change. [10,11] That can include school history, early organization challenges, chronic time-blindness, and relationship patterns.
For a broader overview of adult assessment options in Tennessee, see ADHD and autism assessments for adults and older teens in Tennessee.
Mood/anxiety screening + timeline of symptom onset
A careful evaluation screens for anxiety, depression, trauma, and other contributors, and it maps when symptoms started, when they worsened, and what improved them.
Comprehensive assessment and attention to differential diagnosis are widely emphasized in guidelines. [9,12]
Sleep, medical factors, medications, and cycle/HRT changes
Midlife-aware assessment asks about sleep quality, medical conditions that can mimic ADHD, medication effects, and changes related to contraception or hormone therapy (when relevant). [6,9,12]
✅ Key takeaway: A strong ADHD evaluation does not just “run a checklist.” It builds a timeline, checks rule-outs, and explains why the conclusion fits. [9,12]
Differential Diagnosis: What Else Could Explain the Pattern?
Anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout
Anxiety can look like restlessness, distractibility, and difficulty concentrating. Depression can look like low motivation and slowed thinking. Trauma and burnout can affect attention and emotional regulation. [6,9]
Sleep disorders and medical contributors
Sleep disorders, thyroid issues, anemia, medication side effects, and other medical contributors can mimic or worsen ADHD-like symptoms, which is why differential diagnosis is part of responsible practice. [9,12]
ADHD + mood disorder can both be true
It is not an “either/or.” PMDD and ADHD can co-occur, and perimenopause can amplify both cognitive and mood symptoms. [1,3,6]
🔎 Key takeaway: The goal is not to “pick one label.” The goal is a formulation that fits your history and points to effective support. [9]
What to Track Before an Evaluation
A simple month-by-month symptom + cycle log (no perfection needed)
If you can, track for 1–3 months:
Cycle dates (or approximate pattern if irregular)
Sleep quality (quick rating)
Attention/executive function (quick rating)
Mood/irritability/anxiety (quick rating)
Even a few notes can reduce recall bias and help clarify whether “ADHD symptoms worse before period” is a consistent pattern.
“Impact notes”: work errors, conflicts, shutdowns, missed tasks
Short, concrete notes are gold:
Missed deadlines or overlooked details
Emotional blowups or conflict spikes
Shutdowns, avoidance, or task paralysis
What helps: sleep, reduced load, support, routines
Track what helps, too:
Earlier bedtime or fewer evening screens
Reduced load during vulnerable windows
External supports (body doubling, reminders, delegated tasks)
🗓️ Key takeaway: You do not need perfect tracking. You need enough data to show patterns in impact, not just distress.
What You Can Expect After the Assessment
A clear formulation and recommended supports
A quality assessment should give you more than a yes/no answer. It should explain what the data suggests, what it rules out, and what supports fit the formulation. [9,12]
Coordination suggestions for medical/menopause care
When hormone shifts, sleep, or medical factors are part of the picture, coordination guidance can help you talk with your prescriber or medical provider in a focused, evidence-based way. For an example of a differential-focused approach, see ADHD vs menopause brain fog differential evaluation in Tennessee.
Documentation and accommodations guidance (when relevant)
When appropriate, evaluation results can support workplace or academic accommodations by clearly describing functional impacts across settings. [10,12]
If you are considering a telehealth ADHD evaluation or online ADHD assessment in Tennessee, you can start with a free consultation with ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare to discuss fit and next steps.
References
Osianlis E, Thomas EHX, Jenkins LM, Gurvich C. ADHD and Sex Hormones in Females: A Systematic Review. J Atten Disord. 2025;29(9):706-723. doi:10.1177/10870547251332319. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (PubMed Central)
Eng AG, Nirjar U, Elkins AR, et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Menstrual Cycle: Theory and Evidence. Horm Behav. 2023;158:105466. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105466. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (PubMed Central)
Hantsoo L, Epperson CN. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Epidemiology and Treatment. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2015;17(11):87. doi:10.1007/s11920-015-0628-3. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (PubMed Central)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Table 3.24 DSM-IV to DSM-5 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Comparison. In: Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): SAMHSA (US); 2016 Jun [cited 2026 Jan 18]. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (NCBI)
Shanmugan S, Epperson CN. Estrogen and the prefrontal cortex: Towards a new understanding of estrogen’s effects on executive functions in the menopause transition. Hum Brain Mapp. 2012;35(3):847-865. doi:10.1002/hbm.22218. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (PubMed Central)
Metcalf CA, et al. Cognitive Problems in Perimenopause: A Review of Recent Evidence. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2023;25(10):501-511. doi:10.1007/s11920-023-01447-3. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (PubMed Central)
Weber MT, Rubin LH, Maki PM. Cognition and mood in perimenopause: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2013;0:90-98. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.06.001. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (PubMed Central)
The Menopause Society. Perimenopause (Patient Education) [Internet]. [cited 2026 Jan 18]. (menopause.org) (The Menopause Society)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87) [Internet]. Published 2018 Mar 14; last reviewed 2025 May 7 [cited 2026 Jan 18]. (nice.org.uk) (NICE)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnosing ADHD [Internet]. Updated 2024 Oct 3 [cited 2026 Jan 18]. (cdc.gov) (CDC)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Table 7 DSM-IV to DSM-5 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Comparison. In: DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD): SAMHSA (US); 2016 Jun [cited 2026 Jan 18]. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (NCBI) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t3/)
Skirrow P. Practice Standards for the Assessment of ADHD: A Synthesis of Recommendations From Eight International Guidelines. J N Z Coll Clin Psychol. 2025;35(1):96-116. doi:10.5281/zenodo.16743965. (jnzccp.scholasticahq.com | PDF) (NZ College of Clinical Psychologists Journal)
About the Author
Kiesa Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist at ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare. Her work focuses on comprehensive psychological assessment, including careful differential diagnosis when symptoms overlap across medical and mental health factors.
Dr. Kelly has advanced training in neuropsychology and assessment, and has worked with adults across the lifespan. Learn more about her background and assessment approach here: Kiesa Kelly, PhD.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. If you are concerned about your symptoms or safety, contact a qualified healthcare professional or local emergency services.
