Hormone & ADHD Cycle Navigator

Endocrine & Dopamine Sensitivity Timeline Days 1 – 28

Cycle Day: 24 / 28 Late Luteal / Premenstrual

Day 1 (Menses) Day 7 (Follicular) Day 14 (Ovulation) Day 21 (Mid-Luteal) Day 28 (Premenses)

Prefrontal Synaptic Micro-Dynamics COMT activity & D1/D2 density

● Dopamine (DA) ⯁ COMT Degradation ▲ E2 Potentiation ■ Stimulant Buffer

Current Neurochemical State Natural Ovulatory

Estradiol (E2) Rapidly Dropping ~85 pg/mL (Estrogen withdrawal)

Progesterone (P4) Dropping from Peak ~6.5 ng/mL (Allopregnanolone fall)

PFC Dopamine Modulation -38% Sensitivity High COMT clearance rate

Stimulant Responsiveness Blunted (~58%) Requires higher baseline support

Phase-Locked ADHD Symptoms Real-time executive impact

Clinical Mechanism Note:

Estradiol down-regulates COMT (the enzyme clearing dopamine in the prefrontal cortex) and enhances D2/D1 receptor affinity. As estradiol drops in the late luteal phase, dopamine clearance accelerates, causing executive function strain and reduced stimulant efficacy.

Key Research Base: Roberts et al., Endocrine Modulations of ADHD & Stimulant Efficacy; New Scientist Special Issue on Female Hormones & ADHD; Arnsten Lab PFC Dopamine Inverted-U Models.