HORMONES AND EPILEPSY

What are hormones? Hormones are chemical substances formed in organs and glands, that travel through the body via the blood stream. They control many biologic processes such as muscle growth, heart rate, hunger and menstrual cycle. Steroid hormones include the three major sex hormone groups: estrogens, androgens, and progesterones. All three are present in both men and women, but in different amounts.

What do the sex hormones do? Sex hormones have several functions. Primarily, they control and maintain our reproductive systems. They also have an influence on muscle mass, bone strength, and behavior. Sex hormones begin to influence brain function before birth, as early as a month or two after conception.

Is there a connection between seizures and hormones? Yes, although we do not understand it very well. We know that the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, act on certain brain cells, particularly those in the temporal lobe, a part of the brain where partial seizures often begin. Estrogen excites these brain cells and can make seizures more likely to happen. In contrast, progesterone can inhibit or prevent seizures in some women.

Are all seizures caused by hormone changes? No, but some women with epilepsy do experience changes in their seizure patterns at times of hormonal fluctuation. For example, puberty is a time when hormones are stimulating body changes. It is not unusual for certain kinds of seizures to disappear at puberty, while other seizure disorders may start at this time. Many women with epilepsy see changes in the number or the pattern of their seizures around the time of ovulation (mid-cycle), or just before and at the beginning of their menstrual periods.

Why do I have seizures more often around the time of my menstrual period? This is a condition called “catamenial epilepsy,” and describes a tendency for increased seizures related to the menstrual c cycle. In some women, seizures occur most frequently just before menstruation, during the first few days of menstruation and at mid-cycle, during ovulation. The causes of catamenial epilepsy are not understood very well. The balance between the two female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, may be disturbed, or you may not be producing enough progesterone during the second half of your menstrual cycle. It is also possible that the amount of antiepileptic drug (AED) circulating in your bloodstream may decrease before menstruation.

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“There are now over one million American women who have epilepsy. We are in critical need. Without attention – soon- our lives will remain terribly vulnerable to a host of serious consequences. The inequity that exists around the care of women with epilepsy is an issue that ALL women can be concerned about, as lack of parity in women’s health care DOES affect all women. Having our concerns trivialized, unacknowledged, and rejected too often leads to tragic results - -“

Lisa Lindahl

Chair, Women and Epilepsy Initiative.

The Women and Epilepsy Initiative is a campaign to bring hope and help to women with epilepsy. The project will provide the information and support that women with epilepsy need to work more effectively with their health care providers. It will also target the scientific and provider communities to stimulate scientific interest in the issues, generate support for research and sensitize and educate health care providers about the difficulties confronting women with epilepsy. Sponsored by the National Epilepsy Foundation. For more information on the Women and Epilepsy Initiative contact the Epilepsy Foundation of South Central Wisconsin.

608-833-8888 or 800-657-4929

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Epilepsy & Pregnancy. 24 page pamphlet. Women who have epilepsy have special concerns when they decide to have a baby. This pamphlet was designed to answer some of the more common questions that women with epilepsy ask, including birth control, seizures during delivery, birth defects, caring for an infant, etc. Single copy is free from Epilepsy Foundation of South Central Wisconsin.

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