--- title: Do women with ADHD and autism have more premenstrual problems than women without these conditions? description: Yes, women with ADHD and autism have significantly more premenstrual problems than women without these conditions, with equal severity in both groups. Premens url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-monthly-spectrum-premenstrual-symptoms-across-adhd-and-autism-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with ADHD and autism have more premenstrual problems than women without these conditions? Survey study, 2026 # Do women with ADHD and autism have more premenstrual problems than women without these conditions? Yes, women with ADHD and autism have significantly more premenstrual problems than women without these conditions, with equal severity in both groups. Premenstrual symptoms are linked to traits like inattention and social difficulties. Moderate study design 199 women aged 20-40 without hormonal contraceptive use (89 ADHD, 39 autism, 71 controls) ## What they did Researchers compared 89 women with ADHD, 39 women with autism, and 71 women without either condition, all aged 20-40 and not using hormonal contraceptives. They measured premenstrual symptoms and assessed ADHD traits, autism traits, and sensory sensitivity. ## What they found Women with ADHD and autistic women both had significantly higher rates of PMDD than women without these conditions. There was no significant difference between the ADHD and autism groups. Premenstrual symptoms were associated with inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and social skills difficulties. Sensory hypersensitivity was not independently associated with premenstrual symptoms when ADHD and autism traits were accounted for. ## What it means for you Women with ADHD or autism have a higher burden from premenstrual problems, with severity linked to these conditions' core traits. However, how participants were recruited may have affected the results. Better recruitment strategies are needed to get more reliable estimates of how common PMDD is in these populations. 89 women with ADHD 39 women with autism 71 women without ADHD or autism ## About the study Original title The monthly spectrum: Premenstrual symptoms across ADHD and autism Authors Groenman AP, Welling LE, Pieters S Journal Women's health (London, England) Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 199 What was tested none Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/17455057261476912](https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057261476912) Original abstract BackgroundWomen with ADHD and autism experience elevated rates of premenstrual problems, yet no direct comparisons between these conditions exist in adults.ObjectivesThis study examined premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) prevalence, symptoms, and impairment across ADHD, autism, and neurotypical women.DesignCross-sectional data from 199 women aged 20-40 without hormonal contraceptive use were analyzed across two samples.MethodsParticipants included 89 with ADHD, 39 with autism, and 71 controls. Premenstrual symptoms were assessed using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), alongside measures of ADHD characteristics, autism traits, and sensory hypersensitivity.ResultsBoth ADHD and autistic women showed significantly elevated provisional PMDD rates according to the PSST screening instrument compared to controls, with no significant difference between neurodivergent groups. Dimensional analyses revealed positive associations between premenstrual symptoms and neurodiverse traits, particularly inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and social skills difficulties. The impact of premenstrual problems was similarly associated with these traits across diagnostic groups. Contrary to hypotheses, sensory hypersensitivity was not independently associated with premenstrual symptoms after controlling for ADHD and autism characteristics.ConclusionsPremenstrual problems constitute a significant burden for both ADHD and autistic women, with dimensional associations suggesting that individuals with more severe neurodivergent traits face heightened risk. Yet our findings also demonstrate that prevalence estimates are only as reliable as the recruitment strategies behind them. Advancing this field requires both greater clinical attention to menstrual cycle-related difficulties in neurodivergent populations and recruitment strategies that yield dependable estimates. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[ADHD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-adhd/)[Autism](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-autism/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2026 What do we know about PMDD in autistic people and those with ADHD? Review, 2026 What should doctors know about PMS and PMDD in teenagers? Survey study, 2025 Are girls with ADHD or autism more likely to have severe PMS or PMDD? Survey study, 2025 Are women with ADHD more likely to have PMDD? Cohort study, 2010 How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗