Ever since starting my seizures when I was 12 I have graphed them and as
soon as I started menstruating I noticed the worst seizures I had were
always right before or right after menstration! In order to help myself
out I got on a birth control pill so I know when I am about to start
menstruating and when I will be done. This way I confirmed with my doctor
if it was ok to take one extra trileptol and Kepra during when it is
"that time of month." He agrees its ok to do this so why don't you try
tracking your seizures and find out if you can get on a BCP.

I also have catamenial epilepsy as diagnosed by my neuroendocrinologist.  He prescribed a hefty dose of Prometrium from Day 12 of my cycle until I get my period and then a tapering period of two days into the next cycle.  I tried it for a couple of months, but didn't have a lot of success.  It had a lot of side effects and I was still having seizures.  I suffer from simple partials and complex partials.  I have nausea, dizziness and speech difficulties.  I am now doing two things that seem to make a huge difference and both are over the counter/experimental - something you can try for relatively low cost that doesn't require a physician.

1.  I purchased Emerita Pro-Gest creme at Super Supplements.  This is also available at Vitacost.com for significantly less.   I discovered if I rubbed a good dollop of it on the thin skin - shins, inside of my arms, face a couple of times a day during the rough times, I would have fewer side effects and the seizures would subside.

 2.  I began a ketogenic diet.  The brain is fueled by glucose.  In the absence of glucose (carbs) the brain will run on ketones.  This has a calming effect on the brain and causes the neuron and synapses to functin differently.  I actually made it through an ovulation cycle without a seizure by using diet alone.   You can use a modified Atkins plan.  Basically stick to 20 carbs or less a day.  This has proven to work for 63% of epileptics with a 90% decrease in seizures.

 I hope one or both of these work for you!  Also, my neuro told me to chart my cycles.  Day 1 being the first day of your period.   Once I had 7-8 cycles in print, I could really see a pattern of ovulation and the couple of days before and after my period start.  It really helps me plan my life and when I ramp up my efforts to thwart it.

 Good Luck!

I've tracked my seizures for years.  When I started tracking them, I was surprised to see that I have a lot more during the week before menstruation.  It also occurred to me that my seizures began the same year that I started menstruating.  I did some research and found a term for it ... "catamenial epilepsy."  There is a lot of information on it on the web.  As far as treating it, all of my neurologists have disregarded this aspect of my seizures (who knows, maybe this is why I'm still not seizure-free), however, some of the web sites mention using hormonal therapy along with anti-seizure meds.  Estrogen and progesterone are the female sex hormones... from what I gather, right before our periods, our estrogen levels increase and progesterone levels drop.  Some doctors have used progesterone to balance the hormone levels out.  I suppose you might be able to get something over the counter, but I'd be really careful.  Good luck, Laura! 

Heather