Some women experience seizures with changes in hormone levels
Many women have seizures related to their monthly cycle. Some women can have as many as three or four a day. Seizures are generally mild, partial seizures, but some women can experience severe generalized seizures and lose consciousness. This type of seizure is called catamenial epilepsy and is most likely due to the specific changes in hormone levels just before and during menstruation.
When the levels of the two main hormones, estrogen and progesterone vary, they can affect brain cells differently. Estrogen, which is responsible for the onset of bleeding and for ovulation, tends to be proconvulsant; that is, estrogen may lower seizure thresholds making seizures more likely. Meanwhile, progesterone, responsible for keeping the uterine lining rich in preparation for a fertilized egg, has anticonvulsant properties and might be relatively protective against seizures.
Catamenial epilepsy can be hard to control. Don’t be embarrassed to talk to your neurologist about them. Your doctor might suggest some revisions to your anti-seizure medications during this time of the month. Also, try to get plenty of sleep and avoid things like alcohol or too much stress.
Tags: catamenial epilepsy, epilepsy, estrogen, hormones and epilepsy, progesterone