Menopause, Hormones, and the Female Brain

Expert, Experience expert

1 hour

NL, EN

Behavior change,
Vitality,
Psychology / Brain,
Mental health

Inspire,
Health,
Inform

Menopause is much more than just a few hot flashes and sleepless nights. Hormonal changes affect your brain, your energy levels, your emotions, your concentration, and even how you see yourself. But what happens if you also have ADHD?

Why Menopause and ADHD Exacerbate Each Other.

Menopause is much more than just a few hot flashes and poor sleep. Hormonal changes affect your brain, your energy levels, your emotions, your concentration, and even how you see yourself. But what happens if you also have ADHD?

In this inspiring and scientifically grounded talk, Franka van der Poll and menopause coach Leonie Bosklopper take you on a journey through the fascinating interplay between hormones, the female brain, and ADHD.

While Leonie provides insight into what happens hormonally during menopause and why so many women suddenly feel like they’re “not themselves anymore,” Franka shares her personal story as someone with firsthand experience of living with ADHD.

Together, they demonstrate why ADHD symptoms often worsen during menopause, why so many women aren’t diagnosed until later in life, and why this life stage becomes a turning point for many.

Using a combination of scientific insights, real-life examples, humor, relatable moments, and personal experiences, they answer questions such as:

* What exactly happens during menopause?
* What role do hormones play in attention, emotions, energy, and stress?
* Why do ADHD symptoms sometimes seem to worsen out of nowhere during menopause?
* Why are so many women misunderstood or misdiagnosed for years?
* What can you do yourself to function better, both at home and at work?

This lecture is not a dry medical talk, but a relatable and enlightening story about a topic that is still far too rarely discussed.

The audience leaves the room with a better understanding of the influence of hormones on the female brain, more knowledge about ADHD in women, and, above all, practical insights to better understand themselves and others.

Suitable for organizations, HR teams, healthcare professionals, women’s networks, educational institutions, conferences, and anyone who wants to learn more about the influence of hormones, neurodiversity, and women’s health.

Why is this lecture impactful?
Because women often spend years thinking there is something wrong with them, when in fact their brains and bodies are simply doing what they are biologically meant to do. Franka and Leonie demonstrate how knowledge, recognition, and understanding can make the difference between merely surviving and living life to the fullest again.

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