Estrogen, progesterone, and epilepsy

Approximately 1% of the population has epilepsy, or a medical condition that is characterized by a pattern of repeated seizures, and nearly half of the cases have an undetermined cause. The other half are caused any number of things ranging from brain tumors to lead poisoning. Catamenial epilepsy is a pattern of seizures that occur during the menstrual cycle and may be a result of the fluctuation of hormones and their effects on the brain. This could be why catamenial epilepsy was once associated, like so many things, with the phases of the moon.

If you suffer from seizures around your menstrual cycle or know someone who does, read on to learn more information about this condition and what methods are available for treatment.

Why do seizures occur around the menstrual cycle?

Studies suggest the reason for seizures is the fluctuation of the hormones estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle. For most women with normal menstrual cycles, catamenial seizures typically occur just before or during menstruation, or just during ovulation. Women with irregular periods may find they experience their seizures during the second half of the menstrual cycle, or the luteal phase. Seizure frequency is also known to shift during pregnancy and menopause.

What is the role of estrogen and progesterone?

For starters, estrogen has been found to heighten brain activity and possibly induce seizures, while research has shown progesterone to inhibit seizures. During menstruation, women experience a surge of estrogen, and a decrease in progesterone leaving the brain vulnerable to a seizure. However, if you have an abnormal menstrual cycle, your seizures may be less predictable.

Are there any treatments available?

Like many medical conditions that are a result of a hormonal imbalance, hormone therapy is often seen as the solution. Cyclical hormone treatment raises the progesterone levels during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in hopes of muting the surge of estrogen women experience during menstruation and releasing it more gradually into the bloodstream.

Suppressive hormone therapy users completely avoid their menstrual period, or suppress it. It is worth noting that both of these methods of treatment are very patient specific and come, at times, with severe side effects.

For more information

Consult your doctor. Hormone therapy is a risky method of treatment and should only be considered after other courses of treatment have been exhausted. Though it may not be as simple as altering your diet or exercising regularly, there are alternative treatments available and you should ask your doctor about them when you are discussing treatment options.

Reviewed on Friday, March 22nd, 2013

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