What a journey you've been through — and honestly, the "lucky packet" comment deserves a standing ovation for restraint. Your question is a really important one, and you are absolutely not alone in this experience.
Yes, hormonal fluctuations can significantly affect seizure frequency in women with epilepsy. There is actually Show Full Answer
What a journey you've been through — and honestly, the "lucky packet" comment deserves a standing ovation for restraint. Your question is a really important one, and you are absolutely not alone in this experience.
Yes, hormonal fluctuations can significantly affect seizure frequency in women with epilepsy. There is actually a name for this: catamenial epilepsy, which affects roughly 42% of women with epilepsy — that's between 300,000 and 500,000 people in the US alone. Here's what's happening hormonally:
- Estrogen excites neurons in the brain, increasing seizure likelihood
- Progesterone has a calming, anti-seizure effect on the brain
- When progesterone drops — particularly 3 days before your period through the first 3 days of it — seizure risk rises noticeably
This hormonal seesaw is believed to be the core driver of catamenial epilepsy. Other MyEpilepsyTeam members have shared very similar experiences. One member said, "Ninety percent of my seizure activity happens three to five days before my cycle starts — it's the only constant I've found in tracking my seizures." Another shared that progesterone cream during days 15–25 of her cycle helped significantly. Seizures during catamenial epilepsy can occur at three key points in the cycle:
- Around ovulation (midcycle) — periovulatory seizures
- Just before or during your period — perimenstrual seizures
- During missed periods — anovulatory cycles
Tracking your seizures alongside your cycle could reveal a clear pattern worth sharing with your neurologist. Treatment options that have been explored include progesterone therapy and certain hormonal birth control methods. However, it's worth knowing that results from controlled studies have been mixed — some women report real benefits while others don't see consistent improvement. This is definitely a conversation to prioritize with a specialist.
Given that your seizure frequency has increased significantly — from once every few years to 3–6 times a year — making that trip to a neurologist in a bigger city really is worth bumping up the priority list. A two-hour drive is a small price for getting the right care, especially since your current medication may need reviewing.
October 3
Join
Your Privacy Choices
