In one minute

Many women tell us their ADHD is not the same every week. Attention, mood and how well medication works can all shift across the cycle, usually for the worse before a period. The evidence is still developing, but it fits what we know about oestrogen and dopamine, and what patients report so reliably that we take it seriously.

The same applies across life. Pregnancy, the months after birth and the years around menopause all involve big hormonal changes, and ADHD often changes with them. Perimenopause in particular can make ADHD dramatically harder, and is a common point of first diagnosis.

This guide helps you track the pattern and says what we can adjust. Nothing here is a reason to change medication or contraception yourself — all of it is a reason to talk to us.