Question: So glad to learn a lot from this thread! 
  
  My question is:
  
  What do you think about the state of research in regards to ADHD in women? I, like many others, have found that or hormonal changes through life seem to have an effect on the effectiveness of our medication. What areas should we as individuals focus on when trying to do research in order to be more informed about our mental health?
Answer: It is an important area that begs for more research. We know that sex hormones influence brain dopamine, which regulates ADHD symptoms. There are also data suggesting that maternal use of hormonal contraception is associated with a small increased risk for ADHD in the children. So, a biological connection is plausible. The research data are too sparse to conclude whether hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle affect ADHD symptoms or if ADHD can emerge during menopause, although both have been suggested in the research literature.
content: Q: So glad to learn a lot from this thread! 
  
  My question is:
  
  What do you think about the state of research in regards to ADHD in women? I, like many others, have found that or hormonal changes through life seem to have an effect on the effectiveness of our medication. What areas should we as individuals focus on when trying to do research in order to be more informed about our mental health?
   Ans: It is an important area that begs for more research. We know that sex hormones influence brain dopamine, which regulates ADHD symptoms. There are also data suggesting that maternal use of hormonal contraception is associated with a small increased risk for ADHD in the children. So, a biological connection is plausible. The research data are too sparse to conclude whether hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle affect ADHD symptoms or if ADHD can emerge during menopause, although both have been suggested in the research literature.