What’s Your Dopamine Cycle?

You might already know that estrogen impacts dopamine and, of course, dopamine impacts the severity of your ADHD symptoms. Because of this interplay, one of the recommendations that I make in the ADHD & Sex online course is for partners to get to know their female spouse’s menstrual cycles. The same goes for Dads who are raising ADHD girls. Funny though, most males look at me like I am crazy for suggesting that they track or follow the cycles of the important women in their lives. Please note that by females, I am referring to Assigned Females At Birth (AFAB).

One of the best parts of my work is talking to some really smart and creative people! So, after suggesting the importance of understanding the link between estrogen, dopamine and ADHD symptoms, a Dad responded with this: “Well, I can’t ask about menstrual cycles, but I can ask where are they at in their dopamine cycle”. I just love ADHDers!!

So, with his permission, if you are struggling to figure out how to address female hormones and their impact on dopamine highs and lows, and you don’t want to start getting into periods, menstruation or menstrual cycles, you can simply ask:

• How does your dopamine cycle impact your ADHD symptoms?

• What do you notice about your impulsivity and your big emotions at different points of your dopamine cycle?

• Where are you at in your dopamine cycle?

• Are you OK if I track your dopamine cycle so I can better understand and support you?

Research is expanding about the role that female hormones play in the ADHD experience. In the day to day lives of females with ADHD, it can be very helpful to understand and track the interplay between our hormones and our choices. Lovers, partners and, even Dads, are becoming much more involved in menstrual cycles than in the past. Learn more about ADHD and female hormones. It’s one way to improve your connection with the ADHD females in your life. By better understanding and supporting them, you can improve and deepen your relationships with the people who matter most to you!

References to explore:

1. Broughton, T., Lambert, E., Wertz, J., & Agnew-Blais, J. (2025). Increased risk of provisional

   premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) among females with attention-deficit

   hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): cross-sectional survey study. British Journal of

   Psychiatry, 226(6), 410–417. doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2025.104

2. CAADRA, Practice Summary: ADHD in Women Across the Lifespan Based on Fireside Chat with

   Dr. Sara Binder and Moderated by Dr. Tina Nicholson (released 2025), n.d.,

   https://www.caddra.ca/wp-content/uploads/Practice-Summary-based-on-ADHD-andHormones-in-Women-with-Sara-Binder.pdf

3. Eng, A.G., Nirjar, U., Elkins, A. R., Sizemore, Y. J., Monticello, K. N., Petersen, M. K., Miller,

   S. A., Barone, J., Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., & Martel, M. M. (2024).

   Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the menstrual cycle: Theory and evidence.

   Hormones and Behavior, 158. doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105466

4. Kooij, J. J. S., de Jong, M., Agnew-Blais, J., Amoretti, S., Bang Madsen, K., Barclay, I., Bölte,

   S., Borg Skoglund, C., Broughton, T., Carucci, S., van Dijken, D. K. E., Ernst, J., French,

   B., Frick, M. A., Galera, C., Groenman, A. P., Kopp Kallner, H., Kerner Auch Koerner, J.,

   Kittel-Schneider, S., … Wynchank, D. (2025). Research advances and future directions in

   female ADHD: the lifelong interplay of hormonal fluctuations with mood, cognition, and

   disease. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 6. doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1613628

5. Osianlis, E., Thomas, E., Jenkins, L., & Gurvich, C. (2025). ADHD and Sex Hormones in

   Females: A Systematic Review. Journal of Attention Disorders, 29, 706-723. doi:

   10.1177/10870547251332319.