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Seizures and Sexual Health

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 17:34
Topic: Women With Epilepsy

Awkward question, but I really don't know whom to ask. [I'm new to this forum, so I apologize if my question is innappropriate. I just don't want to suffer from this issue for the rest of my life.]

My seizures have changed dramatically this year and are now seriously disrupting my sex life. Instead of having a good time, I have a seizure right before or during climax. This gets me so frustrated that I start to cry, not exactly a turn-on or the best way to calm the seizure activity. I never used to have this problem, and it's getting me so anxious that I'm tense and not making the experience enjoyable for either of us.

I talked to my gynecologist, but she has no idea. I'm not very comfortable asking my male neurologists (plus I don't think they'd know or have the time for a real discussion). I've changed my medications a lot recently, so I wonder if it could be that? I'm using new drugs to control my sleep and anxiety, so maybe there's an excess of seratonin in my brain? Or I get too much adrenaline at these particular moments?

I hope none of you actually has this experience because it really puts a damper on your relationship/marriage, but if anyone has an idea of where to look or how to research--I'm scared to google because I don't know what sort of sites would pop up--I would REALLY appreciate it. I know nothing about brain chemistry, so I could use any resources on how the brain reacts to different stimuli, too. 

Thank you very much!! 

Comments

Re: Seizures and Sexual Health

Submitted by 3Hours2Live on Tue, 2013-11-26 - 01:58
Hi SBA 16, One article that is currently "unlocked" (11/25/2013 & to the U.S.A.) is "Orgasm-induced Seizures: A Study of Six Patients" by Ozkara, Ozdemir, Yilmaz, Uzan, Yeni, and Ozmen, (Epilepsia, 47(12):2193–2197, 2006): Abstract: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2006.00648.x/abstract PDF: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2006.00648.x/pdf Epileptic seizures changing in signs/symptoms/stimuli are often grouped under "epileptic kindling": http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=kindling+orgasmic+%22reflex+epilepsy%22&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&as_vis=1 http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=kindling+to+sexual+reflex+seizures&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=yz2UUoOCC7PHsATqk4D4Ag&ved=0CCgQgQMwAA Tadzio

Re: Seizures and Sexual Health

Submitted by nicki on Tue, 2013-11-26 - 10:34
Dont be embarassed. Certain medications can affect your sexual drive and function of certain things. Also your epilepsy and hormones may affecting things too. You should ask your neurologist about it, your happyness is at stake here. Remember that a large part of us women achieving an orgasm is also your general health overall, if you feel you know sexy and secure in your relationship. Keep communication lines open with your significant other also. Hes there support you trough this if hes a good guy. Best to be open with him and explain your having trouble with this now. There are many other ways your needs and his needs can be met until you resolve this issue. Sorry this is not from personal experience, but I have read from others on this website that have this issue

Re: Seizures and Sexual Health

Submitted by SBA16 on Tue, 2013-11-26 - 12:23

Hi Nicki,

Thank you for your thoughtful post! Part of my embarrassment stems from never having the opportunity to speak privately with my doctors, and discussing the subject makes me feel very awkward with relatives present. [Not being able to drive and having poor focus/memory means someone's always in the room with me as a second set of ears--complicates matters!] Anyway, I'm going to take your advice and try to email one of my neuros--harder than it sounds with HIPAA, etc.--so I hope that will solve the problems of privacy and of not being rushed through the topic.

Thanks again, and Happy Thanksgiving!

SBA16

 

 

Hi Nicki,

Thank you for your thoughtful post! Part of my embarrassment stems from never having the opportunity to speak privately with my doctors, and discussing the subject makes me feel very awkward with relatives present. [Not being able to drive and having poor focus/memory means someone's always in the room with me as a second set of ears--complicates matters!] Anyway, I'm going to take your advice and try to email one of my neuros--harder than it sounds with HIPAA, etc.--so I hope that will solve the problems of privacy and of not being rushed through the topic.

Thanks again, and Happy Thanksgiving!

SBA16

 

 

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