Epilepsy and Menopause Register
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Seizure frequency and epilepsy comorbidities in women with epilepsy according to menopause status.
IRAS ID
358362
Contact name
Emily Pegg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 27 days
Research summary
Epilepsy and sex hormones (such as oestrogen and progesterone) have a complex interaction. Changes in hormones can influence how well seizures are controlled, and seizures can also affect the body's release of hormones. During perimenopause and menopause, significant changes in sex hormones occurs. How these changes affect women with epilepsy is not fully understood and research in this area is lacking. In the same way, it is not known how hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may affect epilepsy.
This cross-sectional study aims to explore the association between menopause status, seizure frequency, and epilepsy comorbidities. The epilepsy comorbidities that will be evaluated include depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Menopause onset age in women with epilepsy will also be investigated. Potential differences in outcome measures according to ethnicity and epilepsy subtype will be evaluated.
It is anticipated that the results of the study will be used to inform women and their healthcare team of the likely impact of menopause on epilepsy.
Information gained from the cross-sectional study will inform the feasibility of a longitudinal study to assess whether the risk of seizures, osteoporosis, depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular disease is altered by HRT use in women with epilepsy. Information from such a future study is expected to help disentangle which routine menopause advice and research findings are applicable to women with epilepsy.
The study will include women with epilepsy between the ages of 40 and 65 years. It will be a questionnaire based study. Participants will be invited to complete a questionnaire on a six monthly basis until June 2027. It is estimated that each questionnaire will take around 20 minutes to complete.
Participants will be recruited from clinic databases and posters in Greater Manchester and Merseyside, as well as via national epilepsy charities.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1376
Date of REC Opinion
23 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion