THE HORMONAL CHANGES AMONG NIGERIAN WOMEN WITH EPILEPSY

Abstract

This study aims to compare the sex hormones between women with epilepsy (WWE) and their agematched controls. We postulated that a difference in etiology, may be associated with an unexpected hormonal profile. A case control study carried out at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, South western, Nigeria involving seventy-five WWE and age-matched controls. Blood samples for hormonal evaluation follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, progesterone and testosterone were taken twice from all the participants during their menstrual cycle. WWE had lower BMI (p: 0.004), cycle length (p: 0.014) and more menstrual pattern irregularities (p< 0.001.) In the pre-ovulatory phase, WWE had lower FSH levels when compared with controls, (p: 0.012). Further stratification shows a higher FSH levels among WWE on medication, (p: 0.003).In the mid-luteal phase, FSH level was lowest in WWE not on medication, WWE on medication had higher levels but lower when compared to the control group, p: 0.002. FWE had lower progesterone levels when compared with the control group, (p: 0.004) with no difference with use of AEDs. Testosterone levels were lower among those with symptomatic epilepsy, (p:0.012)WWE had lower progesterone, lower FSH and more menstrual abnormalities, compare to controls in our population.