Therapeutic issues in women with epilepsy.

Authors :: Legros B
Bottin P
de Borchgrave V
Delcourt C
de Tourtchaninoff M
Dubru JM
Foulon M
Ghariani S
Grisar T
Hotermans C
Ossemann M
Sadzot B
Tugendhaft P
Van Bogaert P
van Rijckevorsel K
Verheulpen D
Source :: Acta neurologica Belgica [Acta Neurol Belg] 2003 Sep; Vol. 103 (3), pp. 135-9.
Publication Year :: 2003
Abstract: Approximately 20% of people with epilepsy are of childbearing potential and about 3 to 5 births per thousand will be to women with epilepsy. Both epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs can cause specific problems in women and embryos (less than 8 weeks of gestational age) or foetuses (more than 8 weeks of gestational age). The aim of this paper is to discuss therapeutic issues for the management of women with epilepsy: initiation of antiepileptic therapy, contraception, pregnancy, breast feeding and menopause. Some fertility issues are also discussed.