The menopause affects every woman in different ways. This means that it’s not possible to predict exactly how the menopause will affect each woman with epilepsy.
There is a real need for more research into the possible effects of the menopause on women with epilepsy to be carried out.
About the menopause
Every woman goes through the menopause. It’s sometimes called ‘the change of life’.
Around the time of the menopause, your periods become less frequent and eventually stop altogether. Your body stops releasing eggs, which means that you are no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Among other symptoms, you may experience hot flushes and night sweats. You may also have difficulty sleeping. This can lead to poor concentration and general irritability.
When the menopause happens
In the UK, most women reach the menopause around the age of 51. However it can happen earlier or later than this. There is a possibility that you may go through the menopause about three years earlier than other women. There is more risk of this if you have frequent seizures or have had epilepsy for a long time,
The menopause and seizures
Many women with epilepsy notice a change in their seizure pattern during or after the menopause. Some women have more seizures and some women may have fewer seizures.
If you have catamenial epilepsy (when your seizures follow a pattern that is connected to your periods), some research suggests that you might have more seizures than usual in the time leading up to the menopause. After the menopause, you might find that your seizures happen less often.
We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
This information has been produced under the terms of The Information Standard.
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Updated June 2011To be reviewed June 2013
Comments: read the 11 comments or add yours
Comments
While I found the information useful, there is no mention of memory loss, apart of epilepsy and the menopause. I am 53, and have had temporal lobe epilepsy since |I was 13. My seizures appeared to be related to my periods, and my memory has always been bad especially after seizures. Since experiencing the menopause my seizures, and ,memory, have become worse. Is this something I just have to live with? I find the attitude of employers, regarding memory, very disturbing and unsympathetic, probably due to lack of knowledge of epilepsy.
Can you tell me when Epilepsy Week will be in 2013 please as our support group are trying to compile a calander - it might help raise awareness. Thank you
Hi Deborah,
I’m glad you found the information useful. The problem with memory loss is that there are a whole variety of reasons why this may happen. It is common in people with temporal lobe epilepsy. It is also common in menopause.
You may find it useful to have a memory test. This is called a neuropsychological memory assessment. You would need to ask your neurologist about this. On our website we have a list of strategies that may help. You could then use either of these things to help highlight the issues for your employers.
The exact dates for National Epilepsy Week 2013 have not been set yet. This is done by the Joint Epilepsy Council. But it is always in May and is very likely to be either the second or the third week. I hope that’s helpful.
Cherry
Advice and information Team
I am trying to find out more information about epilepsy and menopause. I have had epilepsy for over 38 years but am now going through Menopause. Since January, I haven't had a seizure (6 months now) - the first time in my life I have gone for so many months free! Is there a connection somewhere between my seizure pattern?
Hi Lesley
How great that you haven’t had a seizure since January. This is very likely to be connected to your menopause. There are definitely connections for some people between seizures and hormone levels. Unfortunately there is not enough research done yet about this. But here is a link to an article you may find interesting, although I’m afraid it’s in quite technical language.
Cherry
Advice and Information Team
I have been working on my job for 13 years. I have been having seizures more often at least 2-3 a month for the last 6 months. Every time i have a seizure my job has to call 911. Sometimes they are different kinds of seizures. My boss is getting really upset, can the company fire me.
Hi Laverne
I assume that you live in America. For this reason, you could contact the Epilepsy Foundation of America, who will be able to tell you about the working laws for people who live in America. They may also have some information about epilepsy that you could pass on to your boss, to help them have a better understanding of the condition.
I hope you soon find the information you’re looking for.
Amanda
Advice and Information Team
i was diagnosed with left lobar temporal Epilepsy in my early 30's I am a Night fitter! i have kept it under control in the main with Topriamate but now at 48 i am having fits ....
they are now 2 -3 a week my periods are now very heavy and every 3 weeks and they have now added Tegratol to the topriamate, but after 2 weeks at 200mg i am dizzy constipated and tired out and have a head ache .. not helping my celiacs , is there any options , because i feel like stopping all of the pills and putting up with the fits the side affects where less.
Hi Paula
I’d firstly strongly advise you not to stop your epilepsy medicines without supervision from your epilepsy specialist, as this can be dangerous. If you don’t have an epilepsy specialist, your GP can refer you to one.
I do appreciate it’s difficult when you start a new epilepsy medicine, as the side-effects can be more obvious at first. That is especially when you are already taking one epilepsy medicine. The symptoms you mentioned, headache, drowsiness and constipation are listed as possible side-effects of carbamazepine. Topiramate also has some of these as possible side-effects. So, your symptoms could be related to your epilepsy medicines, but we can’t say definitely. If they are due to your medicines, they might settle down once on a therapeutic dose. If the symptoms are something that you feel you can’t cope with, talk to your epilepsy specialist. They might advise a much slower introduction to carbamazepine, or to change it for you.
It can take a while to find the right epilepsy medicine, the right dose, with as few side-effects as possible and that gives the best control possible. We have some information on treatment of epilepsy on our website. You might find it helpful to read this.
Rosanna
Advice and Information Team
Hello, I had my first seizure in May this year and had a second one on Wednesday just gone (4 days after I was able to re-apply for my driving licence!). I am wondering if epilepsy ever starts in menopause? I noticed earlier this year that my periods had started to go a bit funny and i took note of when it was in July as I was going on holiday in August. The dates are adrift and my GP has said that I am perimenopausal. I have been to see a neurologist after the first one and all my tests, which were CT (in A&E after the first one), MRI and EEG are all either clear or normal. After a seizure my memory is appalling. I also at times get incredib;e feelings of deja vu and think I can smell a certain smell, but I never then have a seizure. I was like this on Thursday this week, after having had a seizure (I think, I woke up in a chair in the freezing cold conservatory with a very sore tongue!).
My GP is sending me back to the neurologist but I did just wonder about the menopause thing. My late dad had temporal lobe epilepsy. But I would havwe thought if I had been going to inherit, I would have done it before the grand old age of 47?
Hi Renni
Epilepsy can develop at any age. For most people, six out of ten, there is no known cause.
Inheritance can sometimes be a reason for someone to develop epilepsy. With your dad’s history of epilepsy, it may be you have inherited a low seizure threshold. We all have something called a seizure threshold in our brain. People with a low seizure threshold are more likely to have seizures than people with a high seizure threshold. If you have a low seizure threshold, it could be possible the hormanal change due to the menopause, could lower it further. For more information on the likelihood of your epilepsy being inherited, here is a direct link to our information
Some women do notice a link between hormones and their epilepsy. Some women may notice a change in their seizure pattern during or after hormonal changes such as around their periods or the menopause. Some women have more seizures and some women may have fewer seizures.
If we can be of any more help, you may wish to contact us, either by email or the Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050.
Regard
Diane
Advice and Information Team
I started having night seizures as the age of 31 when I was pregnant with my third child. 'Taking Epilim controlled them for a number of years and then I started having fits during the day and episodes of deja vu. I am now 46 and believe I am at the end of the menopause as I haven't had a period for nearly 12 months. I am currently taking carbamezapine (tegratol) alongside Levetiracetam which are controlling my fits as I haven't had one since February so hoping to re-apply for my driving licence February 2013. I also believe that hormones have played a large part in when my fits occur and wonder if it is usual in cases like mine to start reducing the drugs to see if the seizures have stopped now that my periods have.