Epilepsy, sex and fertility
It’s completely normal to have questions about how epilepsy might affect things like dating, sex, or your future fertility.
Lots of young people wonder whether seizures or medication will change what they can do, or whether a partner will understand. The truth is that people with epilepsy can have healthy relationships and fulfilling intimacy – it just helps to have the right information and to feel comfortable talking about your needs. You might also have questions about contraception, pregnancy in the future, or how certain medications affect sexual health. These are all valid things to ask about, and your doctor or epilepsy nurse can give you clear, private, and judgment‑free advice so you can make choices that feel right for you.
Do hormones affect seizures?
There is an active relationship between hormones, brain function, and seizures. Puberty is a time when seizures may start, increase, decrease or even stop. Some types of epilepsy remit, whilst other types may be first diagnosed.
As you go through puberty, your body starts producing more hormones and these changes can affect lots of things, including mood, sleep, energy levels, and sometimes your seizures. For some young people, hormones don’t make much difference at all. For others, seizures might become more or less frequent at certain times of the month, or during big hormonal shifts like puberty, stress, or growth spurts.
Some females may notice their seizures increase around their period because of natural hormone fluctuations. This is really common and nothing to be embarrassed about – it’s just part of how the body works. If you notice patterns like this, keeping a seizure diary can help you and your doctor figure out what’s going on and whether your treatment needs adjusting.
Understanding how your hormones affect you can make a big difference in managing your epilepsy.
This is a good time to have your epilepsy medication reviewed to see if the dose needs to be changed.
Further information
