Patient Power®
Get Email Alerts!
Health Topics
Epilepsy Health Center
Health Center Home Audio Programs Videos
Search by Keyword:
Search by Health Topic:
View all Health Topics >

Menstruation and Seizures

Program: Diagnosis of Epileptic and Non-epileptic Spells
<< Previous   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   Next >>

Andrew Schorr:

Okay. He's a question we got from Mandy also in Chicago. Mandy writes in, "I notice whenever I'm menstruating I have auras and my brain feels off. I know that it's been documented that there is a connection between hormones and seizure activity. Is there anything you can take around that time that helps counteract these spells? I've been grand mal seizure free for some time, but these spells around my cycle make it difficult to function."

Dr. Schuele:

Yeah, that's a hundred year old question, and I wish I had the definitive answer for it. We know already for that long length time of time that there's an association of seizures with menstruation, and we call them catamennial or perimenstrual seizures. And we know that many seizures in women cluster around the time of the period.

There have been recent trials going on to look for medications which could be taken to prevent at that clustering. Obviously if that is clearly predictable, and in some patients it is, there is a chance to take medications maybe for just a few days. But there is a certain risk of starting a medication and stopping it just by itself. So I think it's a very interesting area because I think many patients recognize that connection. It requires a relatively detailed evaluation of what are these spells, how bothersome are they, and what can we do about it.

Andrew Schorr:

Okay. But it's certainly known and she can investigate it further.

Dr. Schuele:

Yes.

<< Previous   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   Next >>