- With Mayo Clinic neurologist
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Swanson is a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic and is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has a special interest in headache disorders and medical education.
Dr. Swanson, a Lacon, Ill., native, was appointed to the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 and works in the Department of Neurology with about 90 other physicians. He formerly chaired the Headache Division in the Neurology Department at Mayo Clinic and works with headache subspecialists around the world. He has published and lectured widely on headache disorders. He also serves as Assistant Dean for Assessment in Mayo Medical School.
"In a manner similar to the printing press, Internet technology enables the unprecedented ability to communicate with the global community about health information," Dr. Swanson says. "There is no doubt that the knowledgeable individual contributes greatly to his or her own health care, and now we can share information much more widely."
"There is much information already available about health care on the Internet. Unfortunately, much of it is not founded on sound principles. It is exciting to be a part of the MayoClinic.com team and contribute to the creation of a reliable and timely health resource."
Dr. Swanson is the neurology editor for "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and has reviewed articles for "Mayo Clinic Health Letter" and "Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource." He is also editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic on Headache" book, published in 2004. In 2008 the magazine "Women's Health" named him one of America's Top Doctors for Women.
Complications (1)
- Epilepsy and learning disorders: Are they related?
Treatments and drugs (2)
- Ketogenic diet: Can it control seizures in children?
- Epilepsy medication: Is it OK to switch brands?
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Question
Epilepsy and the menstrual cycle: What's the connection?
My daughter has epilepsy. She seems to have more seizures around the time of her menstrual period. What causes this?
Answer
from Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
An estimated one-third to one-half of women who have epilepsy experience an increase in seizures right before their menstrual periods. When seizures occur predominantly around the time of menstruation, the condition is referred to as catamenial epilepsy. Such seizures are most likely caused by the hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle. These hormonal changes can alter the activity of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain.
If your daughter has catamenial epilepsy, discuss treatment options with her neurologist. The doctor may suggest increasing the dose of anti-seizure medications or taking an additional anti-seizure drug during the week before menstruation. Although preliminary evidence suggests that the addition of progesterone — one of the hormones that regulates menstruation — to anti-seizure medications improves catamenial epilepsy, more research is needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of this treatment.
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