--- title: How common is seizure worsening with the menstrual cycle in women with epilepsy? description: Only 12.5% of women met the strict definition of seizures worsening with menstruation. However, 78% of women reported afterward that their seizures got worse url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/how-common-is-catamenial-epilepsy-1993/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common is seizure worsening with the menstrual cycle in women with epilepsy? Survey study, 1993 # How common is seizure worsening with the menstrual cycle in women with epilepsy? Only 12.5% of women met the strict definition of seizures worsening with menstruation. However, 78% of women reported afterward that their seizures got worse during their period, showing that women's memories may not match their actual tracking. Early or limited evidence 40 women of childbearing age with hard-to-treat epilepsy ## What they did Forty women with hard-to-treat epilepsy recorded their seizures, menstrual periods, and premenstrual symptoms for 3 consecutive months. Researchers strictly defined seizure worsening as at least 75% of seizures occurring within a 10-day window: the 4 days before and 6 days after menstruation starts. ## What they found Five women (12.5%) met the strict definition. But 31 women (78%) said afterward that most seizures happened near their period. Women with cycle-related seizure worsening reported no more premenstrual tension symptoms than the rest. Four other women had seizure clustering outside the menstrual cycle. ## What it means for you Seizure worsening with menstruation is uncommon when tracked carefully, but women often remember seizures as worse during menstruation even when objective tracking shows otherwise. Doctors need a clear definition to diagnose this properly. The main limitation is relying on women's memory and symptom tracking rather than strict measurement. 5 of 40 Women meeting strict definition (12.5%) 31 of 40 Women reporting seizures worse at period afterward (78%) 10 days Time window: 4 days before and 6 days after period starts ## About the study Original title How common is catamenial epilepsy? Authors Duncan S, Read CL, Brodie MJ Journal Epilepsia Year 1993 Study design Survey study Participants 5 What was tested None, observation only Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1157.1993.tb02097.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1157.1993.tb02097.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Epilepsy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-epilepsy/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Review, 2010 Can neurosteroids help with anxiety and brain disorders? Lab study, 2013 Could antidepressants help prevent PMS by keeping brain chemicals stable? Review, 2011 How do the hormones estrogen and progesterone affect the brain's activity, and could this explain PMS or PMDD? Survey study, 2011 Why do some women experience negative mood with hormone changes? Randomised trial, 2009 Does a hormone called allopregnanolone calm the body's startle reaction in PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗