Therapeutic issues in women with epilepsy

Authors :: Legros, B
Bottin, P
de Borchgrave, V
Delcourt, C
de Tourtchaninoff, M
Dubru, J M
Foulon, M
Ghariani, S
Grisar, T
Hotermans, C
Ossemann, Michel
Sadzot, B
Tugendhaft, P
Van Bogaert, P
van Rijckevorsel, K
Verheulpen, D
UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne
UCL - (MGD) Service de neurologie
Source :: Acta neurologica Belgica, Vol. 103, no.3, p. 135-9 (2003)
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.