title: Female issues in epilepsy: a critical review.
abstract: The focus on gender-related issues for women with epilepsy has heightened in recent years. The emphasis, however, has been on the childbearing years. Epilepsy and antiepileptic drug treatment affect sexual development, the menstrual cycle, and aspects of contraception, fertility, and reproduction. Female patients with epilepsy at a reproductive age face a unique set of reproductive issues, ranging from descriptions of disorders of reproduction in epilepsy and its causes, to contraception, pregnancy, sexuality, menopause, and osteoporosis. Conditions and diseases that specifically affect women are discussed. The role of hormones across the life cycle--endogenous and exogenous hormones and their effects on drug interactions, drug metabolism, and therapeutic outcomes--is described. Contraception and pregnancy issues for women with epilepsy have received the appropriate attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. gerhard.luef@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luef
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female