Many women with epilepsy ask us about seizures that appear to be related to the changes in hormone levels that occur each month in women of childbearing potential. This information sheet answers the most frequently asked questions about hormones and epilepsy. Hormones are chemical substances formed in organs and glands that travel through the body via the blood stream. They control many biologic processes such as muscle growth, heart rate, hunger and menstrual cycle. All three are present in both men and women, but in different amounts.
Sex hormones have several functions.
Primarily, they control and maintain our reproductive systems. They also have an influence on muscle mass, bone strength, and behavior. Sex hormones begin to influence brain function before birth, as early as a month or two after conception. Yes, although we do not understand it very well. We know that the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, act on certain brain cells, particularly those in the temporal lobe, a part of the brain where partial seizures often begin.