--- title: Do women with seizures that worsen around their period have different hormone levels? description: Yes. Women whose seizures get worse before their period have lower THDOC levels and a lower DHEAS/cortisol ratio throughout their cycle (p < 0.05), which migh url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/reduced-serum-level-of-thdoc-an-anticonvulsant-steroid-in-women-with-2008/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with seizures that worsen around their period have different hormone levels? Case-control study, 2008 # Do women with seizures that worsen around their period have different hormone levels? Yes. Women whose seizures get worse before their period have lower THDOC levels and a lower DHEAS/cortisol ratio throughout their cycle (p < 0.05), which might explain their worsening seizures. Early or limited evidence 17 young premenopausal women with seizures that worsen around their menstrual cycle and 13 age-matched control women ## What they did They measured 7 hormones on 6 specific days throughout the menstrual cycle (days 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, and 27) in 17 young premenopausal women with seizures that worsen around their period and compared them to 13 age-matched control women. ## What they found Women with cyclical seizures had lower THDOC levels at every measurement time point (p < 0.05) and lower DHEAS/cortisol ratios. In contrast, three other hormones that are progesterone-related (progesterone, pregnenolone, allopregnanolone) were the same in both groups. ## What it means for you Lower THDOC and lower DHEAS/cortisol ratio may be involved in seizures that worsen with the menstrual cycle. However, the study was small (17 with seizures, 13 controls), and measuring hormones doesn't prove that raising THDOC would reduce seizures. The exact mechanism remains unclear. 17 women with cyclical seizures 13 control women 6 days of menstrual cycle measured ## About the study Original title Reduced serum level of THDOC, an anticonvulsant steroid, in women with perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy Authors Tuveri A, Paoletti AM, Orrù M et al. Journal Epilepsia Year 2008 Study design Case-control study Participants 17 What was tested None. This was a measurement study only. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01555.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01555.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Epilepsy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-epilepsy/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/) 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? Randomised trial, 2023 Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms? Case-control study, 2013 Are stress hormones different in women with PMDD? Review, 2010 Can neurosteroids help with anxiety and brain disorders? Randomised trial, 2005 Does a low dose of alcohol change allopregnanolone, a brain chemical linked to PMDD? Lab study, 2013 Could antidepressants help prevent PMS by keeping brain chemicals stable? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗