What do you know about epilepsy?
In the 19th century when women had seizures they often underwent hysterectomies or ovariotomies. Logic was that eliminating the menstrual cycle seizures would be eliminated as well. Which the strategy did not work. A couple of hundred years later things were not much different. The management of epilepsy is now move sophisticated.
Without dat from clinical trials, registries, and other research, we would not know that epilepsy along with medications uses to treat it impacts women uniquely throughout their adult lives. Because of this woman with epilepsy should consider their condition before making important life decisions like having a baby. But women can manage epilepsy by educating themselves about the condition, keeping in touch with their physician and taking active role in their treatment.
Shannen Soldate, 38 year old woman with epilepsy, said the most critical step was finding a physician who would give her answers to her condition. She visited a number of neurologist over a period of several years before being diagnoses with epilepsy at the age of 28. She had to get medications to help her with her seizures and pain. She wishes she had found a better doctor sooner because the lack of knowledge she did not know what type of questions to ask. She first start to have seizures at the age of 16. At this age seizures are more pronounced during these times is due to the relationship between the two main sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, each of which affect brain cells differently. As women enter adult hood, they may have to confront several issues arising from the use of anti-epileptic drugs. One of these is sexual function. Women with epilepsy are more likely to complain about sexual desire and arousal . One reason for this is that depression , which is common in people with epilepsy, can cause sexual dysfunction. Another factor is that anti-epileptic drugs can interact with hormones that are important for sexual function. The best thing a woman can do in this case is to speak with a neurologist specializing in epilepsy.
www.epilepsyfoundation.org
www.epilepsy.com
www.aan.com
www.brainmatters.org
I think it is interesting how certain medical conditions relate to the different sexes, espcially how they affect men and women differently. When I read the first sentence about hysterectomies and ovariotomies, it reminded my how the word “Hysteria” comes from the Greek word meaning “uterus.” Hippocrates coined the idea that hysteria in women was caused by the a disturbance in the uterus from the lack of sexual intercourse. From the article, it is ironic how epilepsy is now being connected to sexual dysfunction.
By: evinigo on November 2, 2009
at 4:20 am