For most women, periods mean a few days of discomfort, cramps, or heavy bleeding—an inconvenience to work around and move past. But for one 48-year-old patient who came to see me, menstruation had turned into something far more frightening. Every single cycle, without fail, brought on a seizure.

She had been living with extremely heavy menstrual bleeding and severe abdominal cramps for years. Slowly, this had taken a toll—her haemoglobin levels had dropped significantly, leaving her anemic and exhausted. But the part that troubled her most, and honestly the part that troubled us too when we first heard her history, was that almost every month, right around her period, she would develop a seizure. This was happening despite the fact that she was already on anti-epileptic medication.

When she came to us at KIMS Hospitals, we sat down and went through her history carefully. A detailed evaluation revealed a very large fibroid uterus, which explained the prolonged heavy bleeding, the severe pain, and the anaemia that had built up over time. But her history also pointed to something less commonly recognized—a pattern known as catamenial epilepsy, where seizures tend to occur or worsen around specific phases of the menstrual cycle.

This wasn't a case one specialist could solve alone. It needed a genuinely multidisciplinary approach. Our neurology team reviewed her anti-epileptic medication and found that her regimen needed to be corrected, so her treatment was adjusted accordingly. At the same time, we knew we had to address the gynaecological problem that was making every single cycle so difficult for her to get through.

Given the size of the uterus and the severity of her symptoms, we decided a robotic-assisted hysterectomy was the right way forward. Even with a significantly enlarged uterus, the surgery was completed successfully and entirely robotically at KIMS Hospitals.

We monitored her closely after surgery, including a stay in the ICU as a precaution. What was genuinely reassuring—and honestly, quite moving to see—was that she had no seizures during the surgery or at any point during her hospital stay. Her recovery went smoothly, and she was discharged feeling relieved, lighter, and well again.

This case stayed with me because it's such a clear reminder that what looks like "just a period problem" can quietly ripple out and affect a woman's entire quality of life—her neurological health, her energy, and her sense of control over her own body.

So here's what I'd really like every woman reading this to take away: your periods are not something you simply have to suffer through.

If you're dealing with excessively heavy bleeding, debilitating period pain, severe anaemia, or symptoms that keep worsening around your menstrual cycle, please don't brush them aside. The right diagnosis, backed by the right team, can genuinely change the course of your health.

Listen to your body. Seek help early. And please, don't normalise symptoms that are disrupting your life.

If you're looking for the best gynecologist in Thane for expert, compassionate care — from routine women's health concerns to complex surgical cases like this one — you can consult our Gynaecology & Maternity team at KIMS Hospitals, Thane for personalised guidance and treatment.