Menstrual Cycle and Epilepsy

The present study is an attempt to determine the alterations influencing the premenstrual seizure exacerbation. The epileptic women (n: 433) were categorized into: Group-I (single seizure frequency pattern) and Group-II (multiple seizure frequency pattern). Both groups showed significant decrease in plasma calcium. Catamenial epilepsy groups showed significant rise in the premenstrual estradiol, prolactin, cortisol, sodium, BBT and fall in plasma calcium, all with concomitant significant exacerbation of seizures. Furthermore, plasma progesterone varied significantly only in catamenial Group-I; whereas plasma LH changed only in catamenial Group-II. The present study, thus suggests that the etiological role of both the disturbance in water metabolism and endocrine changes co-exists in presently studied catamenial epileptic women. Probably these changes are either secondary to seizure exacerbation and changing other constituents and seizure activity and vice versa. This book has been written primarily for clinical research workers and medical community. KEY WORDS: Menstrual cycle, catamenial epilepsy, hormones, water retention