---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect seizures in women with epilepsy?
description: This review says many women with epilepsy notice their seizures change with their menstrual cycle, likely because hormones affect the brain, but it does not g
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/catamenial-epilepsy-2003/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle affect seizures in women with epilepsy?

Review, 2003

# Does the menstrual cycle affect seizures in women with epilepsy?

This review says many women with epilepsy notice their seizures change with their menstrual cycle, likely because hormones affect the brain, but it does not give a firm answer on how to treat this.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with epilepsy (reviewed from existing animal and human research, not a new patient sample).

## What they did

This is a review article. It looks at existing evidence from animal experiments and human studies on how ovarian hormones relate to seizure patterns across the menstrual cycle, rather than testing a new treatment itself.

## What they found

Evidence from animal and human studies shows that ovarian steroid hormones affect how excitable brain cells are, which fits with women's reports of seizures changing with their cycle. The review states the extent of this problem and its treatment have not yet been systematically evaluated, so no firm numbers or treatment results are given.

## What it means for you

This supports the idea that hormone shifts across the cycle can influence seizures in some women with epilepsy, but the paper itself does not prove a cause or recommend a specific treatment. As a review of existing evidence rather than a new study, it does not include its own sample size, control group, or outcome data.

## About the study

Original title [Catamenial epilepsy] Authors Salvi M, Canova I, Caputo S Journal La Clinica terapeutica Year 2003 Study design Review What was tested None tested; this is a review discussing hormone-seizure links and the need for better treatment strategies. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12856370/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12856370/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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

Systematic review, 2023

What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy?

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How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD?

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Can neurosteroids help with anxiety and brain disorders?

Survey study, 2008

Do women with epilepsy have different hormone patterns or menstrual-related seizures?

Survey study, 1980

Do seizures in women with epilepsy increase at certain times in the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2024

Does exam stress make PMS worse?

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