Premenstrual Epilepsy and Natural Progesterone
Progesterone has been used to treat seizures that occur relative to the menstrual cycle. Catamenial seizures, also called catamenial epilepsy, occur in about one-third of all women with epilepsy. Women who have refractory complex partial seizures or generalized tonic clonic seizures are most likely to experience catamenial exacerbation, which occurs most commonly at the time of menstruation. Less often, catamenial seizures may arise at the time of ovulation or may last from ovulation to the beginning of menstruation.
In laboratory research, progesterone, in both its natural form and synthetically made (medroxyprogesterone), has strong antiseizure properties. The metabolites of natural progesterone have powerful effects on enhancing gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) activity in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter and therefore increasing its activity would be expected to decrease the likelihood of seizures
Progesterone, when used in women with epilepsy to prevent seizures, must be considered a complementary and unproven treatment, used only in combination with standard antiseizure treatments. It does not appear to be a powerful-enough treatment to be used alone.
Further, it must be kept in mind that hormonal changes only influence seizure occurrence, and menstrual hormonal cycling is not the underlying cause of seizures. Whether using a hormone such as progesterone can prevent these hormonally-influenced seizures remains to be proven.
According to Cynthia L. Harden, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience and Associate Attending in Neurology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York, NY., “progesterone is a potentially beneficial complementary treatment for seizure disorders in women who have seizure exacerbations in relationship to their menstrual cycles. Its exact benefit remains to be proven and is currently under evaluation. The neurologist and gynecologist should both be involved when progesterone is used for women with epilepsy.”
UPDATE – December 2011: NIH-sponsored multicenter randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial should finally make progesterone a front line treatment for catamenial seizures. Click here to learn more.
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Judith Lance | Jul 2, 2008 | Reply
I understand that in the 1940′s progesterone was the treatment of choice for both men and women in cases of epilepsy. It was discontinued in clinical use for several reasons. One a concern for the quantity which males could safely use, a second the non-patent ability of progesterone and third that the available supply then was quite limited.
I have a friend who is a long term epileptic using a natural progesterone cream to good effect to deal with pre-mentrual seizure patterns, migraines, cramps and heavy bleeding.
Laura | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
Can the use of natural progesterone cream be used everyday if it is for seizure control or does it have to be used in conjunction with your cycle? Anyone who is using this therapy and has suggestions or answers would be greatly appreciated. I am a seizure sufferer with partial complex and catminal seizures fromt my right tempral lobe. I also recently had epileptic surgery and had my hippocampus removed from the right temporal lobe and it has reduced my seizures, but not completely. I know have seizures weeks apart not days apart or several a day.
Thanks!
Kay | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
I use the cream every day at bedtime. It does not interfere w/ your normal cycles.
I have found no ill effects but have found GREAT RESULTS!
I too have complex partial seizures from my temporal lobe. Since using the cream my seizures have fallen from ~18 days a month w/ some form of seizure activity & ~ 6-8 full complex partial seizures a month to ONLY 5 DAYS last month & only ONE of those was a full seizure!
I think hormones like progesterone is a MAJOR KEY in this form of epilepsy. My doctor says most all w/ this form of epilepsy have seizures that are cycled around their menses. Puberty usually starts the ball rolling.
*The “change” in “levels” of progesterone/hormones in the blood is the KEY.
Yet doctors have failed to add one & one. (and they have the degree?)
The “change” in these levels is the “trigger” to the seizures. Keeping a steady even level is what keeps the brain happy. To start & stop treatment can disturb these levels & can “trigger” the seizures like your regular cycle does. I am using it daily before bed & recommend others to do the same. (Remembering everyone is UNIQUE & ONLY YOU know what is working for you.)
My mood swings have also leveled out since starting this treatment.
Now that NATURAL progesterone is being offered in our care & with the great results it has had on many I am excited that we have hope now in controlling this evil & misunderstood disease W/O ALL THE DRUG SIDE EFFECTS!
Having fewer days of seizures is giving me hope of taking my life back & enjoying it again.
Those at this site have been OVERWHELMINGLY HELPFUL in caring & helping me. I hope what I have learned & passing on to you will help you in controlling your “beast”. I hope you will pass on what you have learned to others. Together this “beast” will be STOPPED & we will regain normal lives!
[Tell your doctors, w/ their degrees, to start listening & learning how to add one & one. Then they may help the millions of others w/ this form of seizures BEFORE giving us dangerous drugs or surgeries & BEFORE our lives have passed by.
It is time for those w/ brain diseases to teach those w/ degrees how to add!:)]
becky | Jan 24, 2010 | Reply
what brand of progestin cream is she using. i understand there are a variety of creams out there.
Marie | Apr 14, 2010 | Reply
I just attended a seminar held by a women’s health nurse practitioner about bio-identical progesterone and it was sooo beneficial. I know I’m estrogen dominant but had no idea how adding a bit of progesterone could help me with my menstrual migraines let alone my catamenial seizures.
Kay | May 7, 2010 | Reply
Becky,
I was updating on comments about my success & saw your question.
I first tried having 2 pharmacies “compound” the cream. (There are many of these in every town. Just call around) BUT…I found they did not mix it consistently making dosing inconsistent, so I got inconsistent results.
**Then I began using the OASIS SERENE PLUS cream (There is a link on this page). (There are 2 strengths of OASIS Progesterone creams, I am using the strongest = use less= cost is less) It also has other vital nutrients in it that are absorbed thru the skin, I almost feel like they help in controlling these seizures more by making the whole system more balanced.
Seizures dropped so much faster!
**I have now not has a grand mal since March 8th! (Usually ~5 GM/mo + ~15-18 days w/ other seizure types!) There have been so many stressful things happen recently that I normally would be passing out to the point of being in the ER & hospital…yet
=>NO GRAND MALS in 60 days!!!
In my 48 years I don’t recall this record ever before! Even migraines have fallen fast!
I would recommend it over any homemade mix from a compounding pharmacy!
[I am experimenting on applying it to my spine where I had failed surgeries hoping it may help w/ repairing the injured spinal cord & hoping it may lower my chronic nerve pain. I will keep in touch on this experiment.
Gov. test say they see some good results in “nerve injuries” as well as brain injuries with the use of progesterone. They dont know why it works...It can’t hurt to apply my daily dose where it might take care of 2 things at the same time!
]
For everyone, research is s-l-o-w-l-y waking up to this. Yet I am shocked the medical school in my town still does not want to look into it even thought they know it is working for so many. I printed all the results that are on the internet & gave it to the research dept. & neurological dept. THEY DID NOT CARE! It made me MAD!
It upsets me so many are having these seizures & the answer is finally here…yet many don’t have access to the site your reading to find out about it. Many don’t even know how to search for a natural treatment THAT WORKS!
=>So, could each of you maybe start telling your doctors, people in the waiting rooms of the clinics & maybe the media….anyone & everyone… about this breakthrough, this web site & other sites w/ related info & maybe get this 2000+ year old disease under control?
I have printed our this web site address w/ some of the stories & some other research site info & have left them in the waiting rooms of doctor offices or given them to people I talk to that have or know someone w/ neurological issues….seizures, migraines etc! Sneaky…but the word must get out! Don’t be shy or ashamed anymore…TALK! Speak loud so ease droppers can hear you!
While waiting I brag about the success & find many who want to know more. (I see some nurses ears perk up wanting to know more also…maybe a seed “closer to the fertilizer” might make it grow faster?
HELP PLANT THE SEED to KNOWLEDGE & CURE!
Everyone…start asking your doctors…forcing them & the medical society to look into it & start using it as a “treatment that works” (as well as force insurance companies to pay for it)
Prayers have been answered…we just need to work together to spread the map to everyone on how to get to the treasure….
HOPE & FREEDOM FROM SEIZURES, PAIN & NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES!
Catherine P. Rollins | May 7, 2010 | Reply
Ladies,
Good news … clinical trials ARE happening. Here are links to as least 2 that I know of happening (or have just concluded) in the United States.
Progesterone for Traumatic Brain Injury Tested in Phase III Clinical Trial – Researchers at 17 medical centers across the country will use the hormone progesterone to treat patients who experience traumatic brain injury (TBI). The treatment is part of a randomized, double-blind Phase III clinical trial that will enroll approximately 1,140 people over a three – to six – year period beginning in March, 2010. The trial is funded by a grant to Emory University from the National Institutes of Health.
http://www.natural-progesterone-advisory-network.com/progesterone-for-traumatic-brain-injury-protect-iii/
Progesterone vs Placebo Therapy for Women With Epilepsy – There is considerable evidence to suggest that natural progesterone has anti-seizure properties. The purpose of this study is to determine if progesterone supplement during the second half of the menstrual cycle lessens seizure frequency in women with epilepsy. This 9 year study was completed in Sept 2009, results have not yet been published. Sponsor – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, USA.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00029536
Lisa | Jul 17, 2010 | Reply
What time of the day do u apply ur cream?? & how many milligrams??
Lisa | Aug 15, 2010 | Reply
I to have complex partial seizure, right temporal lobe & have had 2 surgeries. I do know I do still have the seizures cause I had them during pregnancy & got controlled again 7mths after when my hormones stablized. (that was 4 yrs ago)The past yr I had a break thru, mine r preovultory & know to the day when it will happen (its a 20sec seizure)I am perimenapausal so there u go (the answer!)I started taking natural progesterone cream 400 mg’s from a compound pharmacy a day ( my choice to do so & all my menapause symtoms r gone!!))cause all the studies r on 600 mg prometrium or the lozanges. I did this to prevent having a breakthru since my progesterone is withdrawing. I take it day 14-28 so I ovulate & have the extra progesterone on top of that. Cause apparently Im producing less now due to peri menapause. Funny enough Dr Hardin who wrote this article (is a colleage of my Dr.)I consulted w/ her 10yrs ago,at Cornell University(specialty is woman, pregnancy & hormones) but at that time there was nothing more to be done. Good luck to all!!!
Kay | Sep 12, 2010 | Reply
UPDATE.
I just went thru a set of trials that should have sent my seizures thru the roof. Anyone w/ seizures knows stress is a BIG TRIGGER for increased seizures.
These last 3 months have been so crazy I swear if seizures were happening like before using progesterone I would not be here!
First I needed to go in for a shoulder repair that I injured over 8 years ago. I was told I would need to be in a care center at least 6 weeks. Problem was I had 2 service animals & could not leave them alone.
I looked for help to care for them & could not find anyone to help me.
One of my animals was a 2 legged kitty named Scooter who provided so much support & encouragement.
(Ps watch how you pray & BE SPECIFIC. I had prayed for a “2 legged companion who understood back pain & would always be there for me”.
I got a 2 LEGGED CAT W/ A SPINAL DEFORMITY WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE! I got what I “asked” for! NOT WHAT I MEANT. God has a sense of humor! !)
She caught 3 mice & scooted around the floor like nothing was different. It was as if she was saying “I CAN DO IT MOM…SO CAN YOU”.
Only problem she had a paralyzed bladder from the spine injury so I had to aid w/ that. Many people would not help due to this 5 second a day extra care!
I did not know what to do till one day before church I saw her breathing hard. I got her to the vet & found she was dying!
My heart was gone.
Just 8 months before that my service dog Buddy, a dog that aided w/ my seizures, DIED OF SEIZURES! We figured he had a brain tumor that put him into a continuous seizure.
Animals were all I had. Now all were gone. Grief still has not come out completely.
Then in June I went in for the major shoulder surgery. IT FAILED LIKE YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE…BAD DOCTOR! (I will have to go in & have it done all over again!)
Pain (a big trigger) is out of control & usage of the arm is limited by this. Self care is very limited. (My spinal pain is now covered up by the extreme shoulder pain! Maybe a slight good thing?)
10 days after the surgery while in a skilled health facility I passed a large gall stone! I was screaming bloody murder! My blood tests were off the wall (another great trigger of seizures!)
They talked of surgery! I JUST GOT OUT OF SURGERY! (The care center I was in came down w/ the Norwalk virus also! I could not return there.) TRIALS WOULD NOT STOP!
When the liver settled (thank God no surgery was needed) I went to a different care center. The abuse I witnessed & was a victim of was off the wall! (Big trigger!)
I tried to get help from the outside to look into this & help these poor people but no one cared! Frustration had me outraged! (Another trigger)
I get home & have zero help. Stress from trying to live w/ limited use of the arm & the severe pain brought back depression & feeling of overwhelming hopelessness.
**==>But…during all this I had ONLY 2 FULL SEIZURES IN THE ~3 MONTHS OF ALL THIS INSANITY!
If those had not occurred I would have gone OVER 150+ days W/O A FULL SEIZURE!! NEVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! (Some aura clusters still occur at times)
Normally, with all these triggers I would have been in the hospital on IV’s & supervision just to control the seizures that would have been back to back. Chances of injuring the shoulder would have been off the charts!
**IT WAS THE PROGESTERONE THAT SAVED ME! I KNOW IT WAS! It was the only “changed” factor, from past lighter stress experiences that had me blacking out allot!
If this was not another “TEST” to prove progesterone is a “KEY” I don’t know what else a person could do to convince you.
All on this site should be able to relate to the connection between stress & seizure triggers.
I think this may be “HOPE” everyone needs to look into.
I ask God to Bless Catherine Rollins for her kindness, caring, great research & eagerness to GET THE WORD OF HOPE OUT!
I pray for the rest of you that this disease will not hold us back anymore.
Tracie Selfe | Feb 3, 2011 | Reply
I am writing on behalf of my daughter connie, she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy just over a year ago, she only has seizures during the night or early morning. She is 12 years old.
I have often thought that this was something to do with puberty and some nurses have said the same, she is on sodium volporate now and although it stops them for a while, when she has them they are more severe.
I am very interested in what i have read here. My daughter and i practice TM Meditation which helps a lot with stress. And we are going to see a Ayuvedic doctor soon. This has had some good results with epilepsy also.
I wonder if there is anyone out there who has used this cream on someone of my daughters age, and how it worked for them.
I will certainly be talking to our specialist on this. As i have found out that idiopathic epilepsy just means, ‘they dont know’.
Where do you get this cream found, do you have to get it from your doctor, or is it over the counter?
I always tell my daughter to make sure she sees herself as being well, not the girl with epilepsy, and although it is hard at times, i try to always see her as being the happy, healthy fibrant being that she is, im sure it helps.
Love and blessings
Tracie
Catherine Rollins | Feb 4, 2011 | Reply
Dear Tracie,
Using bioidentical progesterone to treat epilepsy is relatively ‘new’ but trials ARE being conducted, and the results are very promising. There is considerable evidence to suggest that natural progesterone has anti-seizure properties. Therefore you might consider contacting Andrew G. Herzog, MD of the Israel Deaconess Medical Center who lead recent clinical trials in the USA. He was the Principal Investigator a clinicial trial concluded in 2010 – “Progesterone vs Placebo Therapy for Women With Epilepsy”.
Dr. Herzog is affiliated with 2 hospitals :
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
75 Francis St,
Boston, MA
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Ave,
Boston, MA
Read more: http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Andrew_G_Herzog.html
A premium quality, organic bioidentical progesterone cream can be obtained over the counter and shipped to the UK. As a rule, members of the Commonwealth (UK, Australia, New Zealand) are permitted by the TGA to import progesterone cream providing it is for personal use only. The following cream was used by ‘Kay’ in this article commentary and it was in using this cream she got such great results. Here’s the link from my website:
http://www.oasisadvancedwellness.com/cmd.php?af=256390&product=oasis-serene
Be well and keep up the phenomenal support you are extending to your young daughter. And do keep us all updated on your progress.
In light, love & laughter,
Catherine P. Rollins
Founder & CEO
Natural-Progesterone-Advisory-Network.com
cindy cottone | Apr 19, 2011 | Reply
If the seizures usually occur between day 2 and day 5 of my cycle, do you suggest using the progesterone all month long without stopping? If so, will I still get a period. Right now I am pretty regular with my period starting around day 32. I have been told to stop the bio-identical progesterone at day 30, but it seems like the sudden drop will bring on the seizure. I am usually well controlled with Topomax, but last month had a seizure on day 5 of my cycle.
thanks for any help
Karla | Jun 13, 2011 | Reply
Does anyone know how well the progesterone cream works for women who have epilepsy and who have had a historectomy?
I am 46 years old and after 26 years of dealing with epelipsy and seeing many many doctors I have determined that my seizures are catamenial seizures controlled by hormones.I have tonic clonic and complex partial seizures.
I had the surgery 4 weeks ago due to Adenomyosis(hardening of he uterus)and I have been seizure free until yesterday and all of a sudden I experienced several(5 or 6)seizures all in one short afternoon. These seizures were unlike anything I have ever experienced before. These were more like “black outs”. I functioned like a normal person, walking and talking to my husband while we were shopping in the mall and something would snap and I would wake up. Sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes 15 minutes would go by and I could not recall anything that happened during those minutes. He didn’t even realize anything was wrong. My subconscience took over and I was unaware of it until I snapped back to reality. THIS WAS VERY SCARY.I did not remember walking from one end of the mall to the other and there were items I bought and had no recollection of buying them. Good thing my husband was with me. I don’t want to think of what would have happened if he hadn’t been with me.
My OB/GYN put me on an estrogen patch after the surgery. She said I would need this hormone therapy. She also said I didn’t need progesterone replacement because I no longer have a uterus.
I am looking for answers. If anyone has any information of what I experienced yesterday or how to stop it, please reply.
On a positive note, It is refreshing to read on this site of the trials now being conducted and I applaud the doctors and specialists who want to find the answers and not just treat the symptoms.
Thank You,
Karla