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ADHD Chatter PodcastHow Hormones and Menopause Impact ADHD Women | Dr. Louise Newson
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WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT
Dr. Louise Newson on Hormones, Menopause and Women's ADHD Symptoms
- Dr. Newson says estradiol, progesterone and testosterone are made in the brain and act as neurosteroids, so fluctuations in the cycle, perimenopause and menopause can worsen brain fog, memory, concentration, mood and ADHD symptoms.
- She argues that ADHD services and doctors rarely ask about hormones, that women were long excluded from research, and that many women in their 40s may be misdiagnosed or put on stimulant-type drugs without treating a hormonal cause.
- She distinguishes body-identical hormones from synthetic contraceptive hormones, saying the latter are chemically altered, can block natural hormones and lower neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, and that adding testosterone often helps cognition and ADHD-type symptoms.
- For women approaching menopause, she advises tracking symptoms (for example with her free Balance app), being proactive rather than waiting for severe symptoms, and seeing someone who understands the right dose and type of hormones.
- In lighter sections she reveals her to-do diary as her ADHD item, discusses yoga and living in the present, and answers a parent's question about a teenage daughter with ADHD and hormonal mood swings.
IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING
5 ideasHormones are made in the brain and shape brain function
Dr. Newson says estradiol, progesterone and testosterone are produced in male and female brains and work with neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and glutamate, so changes in them affect mood, memory, sleep and cognition.
Symptoms that fluctuate point toward hormones
She says a big telltale sign is symptoms that vary, such as worsening before a period, and that in these cases hormones should be thought about first rather than last.
Perimenopause can mimic or worsen ADHD
She says hormonal chaos can trigger symptoms suggestive of ADHD or worsen existing ADHD, so she would not rush to diagnose ADHD in someone with hormonal changes and would treat the underlying cause first, then see what is left.
Contraceptive hormones are not the same as natural hormones
Dr. Newson says contraceptives are chemically altered, like a dodgy key in a lock, and can block natural hormones and lower serotonin and dopamine, so a bad experience with contraception does not mean natural hormones will feel the same.
Testosterone and progesterone may be underused for brain symptoms
She reports that adding testosterone often improves clarity, processing and ADHD symptoms in her clinic, and that progesterone can be calming and help sleep, though she says hormones are not a cure-all and other lifestyle factors matter too.
WORDS WORTH SAVING
5 quotesYou wouldn't say to a man, "Oh, once a month for a few days you're just gonna feel a bit bad." Like it's just unacceptable. But so much has been normalized, I think, and trivialized
— Dr. Louise Newson
The reason I'm so confident that a lot of it's related to hormones is 'cause I see people improve. You know, they ... I don't do anything else to them other than rebalance their hormones, and they're like, "Wow, I feel like my brain's been freed."
— Dr. Louise Newson
No one gets a badge of honor for suffering with symptoms, so we know that the earlier people can have treatment the better.
— Dr. Louise Newson
You don't know what you're missing until you have it back.
— Dr. Louise Newson
If I wasn't taking hormones, I would not be working as a doctor. Like, I can't begin to explain how hard it is when your brain doesn't function
— Dr. Louise Newson
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SPEAKERS
Dr. Louise Newson
guestAward-winning physician and menopause specialist; former GP and medical writer, creator of the Balance app focused on menopause education and support.
Alex Partridge
hostHost of the podcast ADHD Chatter, interviewing guests about ADHD and related health topics.
High quality AI-generated summary created from speaker-labeled transcript.
