The Power of Progesterone for ADHD Hormonal Balance: Insights from a New Study

Mar 5, 2025

Adele Wimsett, a Women’s Hormone Health Practitioner, dives into the often-overlooked role of progesterone and its impact on ADHD, especially during perimenopause. She shares intriguing insights from her research linking hormonal fluctuations to intensified ADHD symptoms like anxiety and poor sleep. The discussion also covers the benefits of daily hormone tracking, unique challenges faced by neurodivergent women in accessing care, and the importance of a holistic approach to hormonal health. This conversation highlights the empowerment that comes from understanding one’s cycles.

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INSIGHT

Progesterone Declines in Perimenopause

Progesterone declines sharply starting at age 35 in perimenopausal women with ADHD.
This drop intensifies ADHD symptoms, anxiety, and mood issues due to lack of progesterone's calming effect.

INSIGHT

Estrogen Dominance Explained

Estrogen dominance occurs not from excess estrogen but insufficient progesterone to balance it.
This hormonal imbalance creates a "perfect storm" worsening ADHD and mood symptoms.

INSIGHT

Hormones and Histamine Interaction

Declining progesterone in perimenopause triggers histamine flares worsening mood, energy, and digestion.
The interaction between estrogen, progesterone, and histamine creates a vicious cycle intensifying symptoms.

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Progesterone is a hormone that isn't discussed enough, and when it is, it's usually with negative connotations of intolerance.

It's essential we learn more about how hormonal shifts impact our ADHD, especially during perimenopause. This week, I’m joined by Adele Wimsett, a Women’s Hormone Health Practitioner, to explore the powerful link between ADHD and hormone fluctuations—and why understanding the role of progesterone is key to feeling more rested, calmer and less anxious.

Adele has dedicated her career to educating women and girls on harnessing the power of their cyclical nature. As a specialist in ADHD and hormonal health, she blends science and holistic approaches to help women navigate everything from menarche to menopause with more balance and ease.

We discuss a fascinating qualitative study that Adele conducted, where she tracked hormone levels and ADHD symptoms in a group of perimenopausal women. We discuss the often-overlooked role of progesterone and how its decline during perimenopause can lead to intensified ADHD symptoms including anxiety, overwhelm, poor sleep and low mood.

In this episode, Adele also shares her groundbreaking research, tracking hormone levels and ADHD symptoms in perimenopausal women, uncovering how declining progesterone, estrogen dominance, and hormonal imbalances can intensify ADHD traits.

If you’ve felt like your ADHD symptoms have worsened during perimenopause or struggled to get the proper hormonal support, this episode offers you insights, education, and empowering solutions to help you reclaim your ADHD wellbeing.

This episode is a call to action for you to advocate for your health, understand your body better, and seek out resources to help you manage your unique symptoms. The conversation also touches on the societal stigma surrounding women's health issues and the urgent need for a shift in how medical professionals approach hormonal health in women, particularly those who are neurodivergent.

What You’ll Learn:

✨ How hormonal changes in perimenopause can impact ADHD symptoms

✨ Why progesterone plays a crucial role in ADHD hormone health, mood regulation and emotional stability

✨ The connection between estrogen dominance and ADHD symptoms in women

✨ Why histamine flare-ups are common in ADHD perimenopause

✨ Why so many women struggle to get appropriate hormonal health support

✨ The urgent need for more research into the intersection of ADHD and women’s health

✨ How finding the right hormonal balance can help women regain better energy, clarity, and confidence

✨ How to support our adrenals, stress levels and hormone health

Timestamps:

🕒 02:15 - How hormonal changes in perimenopause affect ADHD

🕒 19:50 - The role of progesterone in mood & emotional regulation

🕒 29:33 - The link between oestrogen dominance & ADHD symptoms

🕒 34:45 - Why hormonal balance is key for women’s wellbeing

🕒 40:09 - How awareness can empower women with ADHD

🕒 43:16 - The importance of boundaries for neurodivergent women

If you’re tired of pushing through burnout and want to embrace your ADHD in a way that supports your wellbeing, with valuable insights and practical strategies to help you move forward with more ease, join me for a season of empowering ADHD Women's Wellbeing Workshops.

From nervous system regulation to fulfilment, hormonal health, and creating more compassionate relationships, select the sessions that resonate with you, or buy the all-access pass to join them all and attend a bonus Ask Me Anything Q&A in July! All details can be found here.

Reminders, recordings and reflections will be available!

Kate Moryoussef is a women's ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach and EFT practitioner who helps overwhelmed and unfulfilled newly diagnosed ADHD women find more calm, balance, hope, health, compassion, creativity and clarity.