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Premenstrual Seizures & Low Progesterone

Jul 19, 2011 | By Linda Tarr Kent

If you experience seizures that are tied to your menstrual cycle, you are not alone. Low progesterone during certain phases of your cycle may play a role because this hormone has anti-seizure properties. Estrogen, on the other hand, can promote seizures. Premenstrual progesterone withdrawal may be linked to seizure exacerbation in more than 71 percent of women, according to Dr. Andrew G. Herzog, Harvard Neuroendocrine Unit director at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Identification

If you have seizures that occur in relation to your menstrual cycle the technical term for your condition is catamenial epilepsy. Your seizure frequency may increase twofold or more when your progesterone levels fall during your cycle. Your hormones do not directly cause seizures, but they can influence how often they occur, notes Herzog in the EpilepsyFoundation.org article, "Ask the Expert: Hormones & Menopause."

Effects

Your estrogen levels begin to rise one week after menstrual onset. In the days prior to onset, you also experience a rapid progesterone withdrawal. Similar to withdrawal of anti-epileptic drugs, this progesterone withdrawal may trigger seizures, Herzog says. Estrogens have a variety of effects, including regulating neurotransmitter release and direct interactions with receptors for neurotransmitters. In this way, estrogens affect your neuronal excitability, according to a 2007 scientific review in "Neuroscientist." Metabolites of progesterone, on the other hand, enhance GABA receptor function which inhibits neuronal excitability.

Drug Effects

Your menstrual cycle also may affect the levels of anti-epileptic drugs in your body. Levels of some such drugs drop premenstrually, which may be one factor in your seizures. Your levels, in fact, may drop as much as 40 percent, notes Herzog.

Therapy

According to a 1995 study in "Neurology," natural progesterone therapy may help if you have catamenial epilepsy. The study found that 72 percent of study subjects enjoyed a decline in seizure frequency when treated with this therapy for three months. Also, average secondary generalized motor seizures decreased by 58 percent and average daily complex partial seizure frequency decreased 54 percent. Herzog recommends trying a natural progesterone supplement during the second half of your menstrual cycle, but only under strict medical supervision. If you have concerns about hormones and seizures your best course of action is to obtain a referral to either a neuroendocrine specialist or a neurologist.

References

Article reviewed by Tad Cronn Last updated on: Jul 19, 2011

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