title: [Particularities of epileptic women's care].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Development on the epileptic women's care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A research in the medical literature on PubMed and an exhaustive review of the published summaries and reports of Epileptology International Meetings, in the last five years. We included cohort studies, reviews and randomized double blinded therapeutic trials. Case reports and fundamental research studies have been excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  sensitizing of the epileptic women starts with adolescence with an education and a preparation to sexual life and available contraceptive methods, in order to avoid undesired pregnancies and the serious consequences which they are likely to generate. Approximately 1/3 of the epileptic women have variations of their disease related to the menstrual cycle, probably because of a neurotoxic effect of estrogens (not counterbalanced by progestational hormones). Antiepileptic teratogenicity issue is not, yet, solved, in spite of new molecules commercialisation. The upkeep of a register concerning the use of AED during pregnancy makes it possible to better identify the problems and to establish an optimal therapeutic control for the mother and the child.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epilepsy impact on women's life is very different compared to men, because it interferes with the fields of sexuality, reproduction, menstrual cycle and contraception, in addition of AED teratogenicity. A close cooperation between obstetricians and neurologist and a sensitizing of health professionals are essential for the global care of the epileptic pregnant women or in age of procreation.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, EPS Charles Nicolle, Tunis.
authors.forename: Ibtissem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben Hamouda
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mrabet
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants