Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Hysterectomy reduce seizures??

Thu, 03/18/2010 - 12:36

Good morning ladies...

I like, many of you, have catamenial epilepsy.  My seizures are completely controlled except for 1-7 days before I start my period.  I have been on several different meds and several different combonations of meds for several years, but nothing works around the time of menstration.

I am 33 and a handfull of doctors have said because of the epilepsy, my baby making days are over.  That is perfectly fine w/ me.  Since I am no longer contemplating children there is no reason for me to continue to ovulate/ menstrate... especially since the menstration is the reason for the seizures I continue to have.

If I were to have a hysterectomy and didn't have to worry about menstration anymore,  would there be a good chance that my seizure amount would reduce/ be eliminated? 

If anyone has had any experiences or have comments/ suggestions/ ideas .... I would love to read them.

 

Many thanks to all!

Shakey Mom=> Omaha, NE

Comments

Re: Hysterectomy reduce seizures??

Submitted by FK on Sun, 2011-07-24 - 16:56

Hello Deborah,

Please recheck this data. It is not the progesterone, but the estrogen, that

facilitates seizures. In reality, it's likely the balance (or imbalance)

between the two. Either way, it is obvious that hormones have a direct

correlation with seizures. Be it a hysterectomy, menopause, or anything else

that may cause major hormonal changes in our systems, they can be very beneficial or

debilitating to our seizure conditions. There are some women whose seizures end at

menopause and others whose worsen (me being one). Some remain the same. There

is really no way to predict how a hysterecomy would effect one woman versus

another. The types of seizures and the AED's each woman is taking also likely

play a role, as they affect various hormones differently. I once had an ovary

and fallopian tube removed, which did not affect my seizures at all. However,

menopause reeked havoc on the number and severity of my seizures for a few

months.

Hello Deborah,

Please recheck this data. It is not the progesterone, but the estrogen, that

facilitates seizures. In reality, it's likely the balance (or imbalance)

between the two. Either way, it is obvious that hormones have a direct

correlation with seizures. Be it a hysterectomy, menopause, or anything else

that may cause major hormonal changes in our systems, they can be very beneficial or

debilitating to our seizure conditions. There are some women whose seizures end at

menopause and others whose worsen (me being one). Some remain the same. There

is really no way to predict how a hysterecomy would effect one woman versus

another. The types of seizures and the AED's each woman is taking also likely

play a role, as they affect various hormones differently. I once had an ovary

and fallopian tube removed, which did not affect my seizures at all. However,

menopause reeked havoc on the number and severity of my seizures for a few

months.

Re: Hysterectomy reduce seizures??

Submitted by cittauk on Tue, 2011-09-06 - 10:51

I had a hysterectomy 25 years or so ago but they left my ovaries in because I was so young. I have been through the menopause I did not have epilepsy until 8 years ago around the tail end of the menopause.Maybe it is just different in different people. I have secondary left temporal lobe epilepsy. I take Lamotrogine at he moment I am not seizure free meds getting raised slowly but seizures definitely lessening.

 

I had a hysterectomy 25 years or so ago but they left my ovaries in because I was so young. I have been through the menopause I did not have epilepsy until 8 years ago around the tail end of the menopause.Maybe it is just different in different people. I have secondary left temporal lobe epilepsy. I take Lamotrogine at he moment I am not seizure free meds getting raised slowly but seizures definitely lessening.

 

Hello I've just had a

Submitted by robnang.pink@yahoo.co.uk on Fri, 2015-05-29 - 03:20
Hello I've just had a hysterectomy two weeks ago. I'm 38 and have suffered from cateminal epilepsy for 30yrs. I had hoped that my seizures would stop but I had one last night. Totally gutted. I was wondering if anyone knows when it's surgical menopause does your body/brain take a little to adjust to the lack of oestrogen? Thanks for any advice you have ☺

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.