---
title: Do seizures increase during the premenstrual period in women with epilepsy?
description: Yes. A study of 80 women with epilepsy found significantly more seizures in the premenstrual period (p<0.001) compared to other times of the cycle.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-seizure-increase-influence-of-age-duration-of-disease-seizure-1991/
---

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- Do seizures increase during the premenstrual period in women with epilepsy?

Cohort study, 1991

# Do seizures increase during the premenstrual period in women with epilepsy?

Yes. A study of 80 women with epilepsy found significantly more seizures in the premenstrual period (p<0.001) compared to other times of the cycle.

 Moderate study design

80 women with chronic epilepsy at reproductive age

## What they did

80 women with chronic epilepsy, aged in their reproductive years, had weekly EEG recordings and seizure monitoring over 30 months. Brain imaging (CT scans) was performed in 57 women. Researchers tracked when 5630 seizures occurred across 579 menstrual cycles.

## What they found

There was a significantly higher incidence of seizures in the premenstrual period (p<0.001). Women with 11 or more years of disease showed greater premenstrual seizure increase than those with 10 or less years. Women with abnormal CT scans or abnormal EEGs had more premenstrual seizures. Age and baseline seizure frequency did not influence premenstrual seizure patterns.

## What it means for you

Female hormones appear to affect seizure risk during the menstrual cycle, particularly in women with underlying brain changes visible on imaging or EEG. This does not apply to women without epilepsy or underlying brain pathology.

80

women with epilepsy studied

5630

seizures recorded

p < 0.001

premenstrual seizure increase

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual seizure increase: influence of age, duration of disease, seizure frequency, previous complaint of perimenstrual accentuation, EEG and CT scan findings Authors Gueirreiro CA, Ramos MC Journal Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Year 1991 Study design Cohort study Participants 80 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x1991000100004](https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x1991000100004)

## Topics

[Epilepsy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-epilepsy/)

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