Reproductive history, sexual behavior and use of contraception in women with epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Women with epilepsy experience more pregnancy-related risks than do their healthy peers. Guidelines recommend highly effective contraception. However, their contraceptive practices remain unknown.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study among reproductive-age women (18-44 years) with epilepsy presenting for routine, outpatient visits to an urban, academic medical center. Our questionnaire, in English or Spanish, included demographic characteristics, reproductive history, antiepileptic drug use, sexual behavior and contraception.


RESULTS
Participants had a mean age of 32 years (S.D.=8), 32% spoke Spanish and described themselves as Hispanic. Participants reported a wide range of educational attainment, insurance payor and income. About half of the participants reported at least one pregnancy, and 50% of the 181 pregnancies reported were unplanned. Among the 53% who reported intercourse in the last month, 74% used contraception, 15% were pregnant, 5% did not want to use contraception, 3% sought pregnancy and 3% had hysterectomy. Of those using contraception, 53% used highly effective methods (sterilization, intrauterine device, hormonal pill, patch and injection), and 47% used less effective methods (condom, withdrawal, rhythm and spermicide). Among the 21 participants using hormonal methods, six concomitantly took enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs potentially increasing susceptibility to pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample of women with epilepsy about half reported prior pregnancies; 50% were unplanned. Of those using contraception, only 53% used a highly effective method. Future studies should determine generalizability of these findings and explore reasons for inadequate family planning in women with epilepsy.
Davis
Anne R
AR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. ard4@columbia.edu
Pack
Alison M
AM
Kritzer
Jordana
J
Yoon
Ava
A
Camus
Adela
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017584:Reproductive History; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female