Relationship between sex hormones, reproductive stages and ADHD: A systematic review
Abstract
Objective This systematic review aims to summarize current available evidence for the relationship between sex hormones or reproductive life stages (adrenarche in males and females, menarche, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause) and ADHD.Methods We systematically reviewed studies investigating the relationship between sex hormones and symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity in individuals with an ADHD diagnosis or equivalent assessment of symptoms with validated scales. Articles were screened sequentially by two reviewers who were clinically and academically familiar with ADHD. Studies were rated according to Oxford Levels of Evidence (CEBM 2009).Results Four studies matched inclusion criteria. One article was a case report of a female with ADHD and premenstrual syndrome experiencing worsening symptoms prior to each period (Quinn, J Clin Psychol 61:579-587, 2005). Another was a review article analysing literature relating to the effect of hormones on ADHD symptoms and supporting that a relationship exists between ADHD symptoms and sex hormone levels, without further characterization (Haimov-Kochman and Berger, Front Hum Neurosci 8, 2014). Giotakos and colleagues found no relationship between Wender Utah scores and sex hormone levels (Giotakos et al., J Forensic Psychiatry Psychol 16:423-433, 2005). An exploratory study by Ostojic and Miller found evidence for an association between early pubertal onset, inattention and risk-taking behaviour (Ostojic and Miller, J Atten Disord 20:782-791, 2016).Conclusion The literature on the relationship between sex hormones and ADHD is limited. Available studies present contradicting information. It is not known how this lack of evidence affects the treatment of ADHD during the lifespan. Further research is required to correctly characterize the mechanisms behind ADHD symptoms and its potential association with sex hormones.
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There is a dire need for female-specific treatment options for ADHD expressed by many, including patients.
“We developed this female-specific treatment option in response to the dire need expressed by many [1,17,19,23,24,25,26,28,41,55,85], including patients.”
From A Female-Specific Treatment Group for ADHD—Description of the Programme and Qualitative Analysis of First Experiences (2024) · cites this paper as [26]
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- Authors
- Camara, B., Padoin, C., & Bolea, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Camara, Bettina
- Padoin, Cintia
- ORCID
- Camara, Bettina
- Venue
- Archives of Women s Mental Health
- Published
- 2021-09-06
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-8
- ISSN
- 1434-1816 (ISSN-L)
- 1435-1102
- OpenAlex
- W3196458179
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Women s Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sex hormones, reproductive life stages, adrenarche, menarche, pregnancy, postpartum period, menopause, premenstrual syndrome, inattention, hyperactivity, risk-taking
- MeSH terms
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Female, Humans, Male, Menarche, Menopause, Pregnancy, Gonadal Steroid Hormones
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