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13 - Menopause and epilepsy

from Part III - Hormones and the brain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2009

Fariha Abbasi
Affiliation:
Neurological Center, 900 Cox Road, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA
Allan Krumholz
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Medical System, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Martha J. Morrell
Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York
Kerry L. Flynn
Affiliation:
Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
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Summary

A woman today is likely to spend half her life after menopause. Because many types of epilepsy are life-long, this means that many women with epilepsy can expect their epilepsy treatment to continue through the menopausal years. It is surprising, therefore, that there is so little information about how menopause affects seizure control. Of particular concern is whether hormone replacement therapy might affect seizures.

Fortunately, all this is about to change. A small group of dedicated physicians is conducting research into epilepsy after menopause. One group of these researchers has provided this chapter. Dr Krumholz is Professor of Neurology at the University of Maryland and Director of the Epilepsy Center there. He is very involved in the Epilepsy Foundation, both as a former member of the National Board of Directors and on the board of his local Epilepsy Foundation affiliate. Dr Abbasi is also an epilepsy specialist trained at the University of Maryland and is now working at the Neurological Center in Gastonia, North Carolina. Although we cannot provide all the answers to questions about epilepsy after menopause, at least we are finally asking the questions.

MJM

Introduction

Menopause (the phase of a woman's life when the ovaries cease to function and menstruation stops) marks the end of a woman's natural ability to bear children. Generally occurring between the ages of 48 and 55 years, menopause is recognized as an increasingly vital and critical part of a modern woman's life.

Type
Chapter
Information
Women with Epilepsy
A Handbook of Health and Treatment Issues
, pp. 131 - 142
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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References

Abbasi, F, Krumholz, A, Kittner, SJ, Langenburg, P.Effects of menopause on women with epilepsy. Epilepsia 1995; 36 (Suppl. 4):148 (abstract)Google Scholar
Abbasi, F, Krumholz, A, Kittner, SJ, Langenburg, P.New onset epilepsy in older women is influenced by menopause. Epilepsia 1996; 37 (Suppl. 5):97 (abstract)Google Scholar
Herzog, AG.Reproductive endocrine considerations and hormonal therapy for women with epilepsy. Epilepsia 1991; 32(Suppl. 6):S27–S33Google Scholar
Mattson, RH.Use of oral contraceptives by women with epilepsy. J Am Med Assoc 1986; 256:238–40Google Scholar
Morrell, MJ.Hormones and epilepsy through the lifetime. Epilepsia 1992; 33 (Suppl. 4):549–61Google Scholar
Rosciszeweska D. Epilepsy and menstruation. In Epilepsy, ed. A Hopkins. Chapman and Hall, London, 1987, 373–81
Thacker, HL.Current issues in menopausal hormone replacement therapy. Cleveland Clin J 1996; 63:344–53Google Scholar

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  • Menopause and epilepsy
    • By Fariha Abbasi, Neurological Center, 900 Cox Road, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA, Allan Krumholz, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Medical System, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.013
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  • Menopause and epilepsy
    • By Fariha Abbasi, Neurological Center, 900 Cox Road, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA, Allan Krumholz, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Medical System, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.013
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Menopause and epilepsy
    • By Fariha Abbasi, Neurological Center, 900 Cox Road, Gastonia, NC 28054, USA, Allan Krumholz, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Medical System, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.013
Available formats
×