title: [Epilepsy and reproductive health: Senegalese cohort].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy is a public health problem in Senegal and Africa because of its severity and its social importance. It occurs at any age sparing no sex. It can influence sexual life and reciprocally. Our aims were to study the effects of antiepileptic drugs on the sexual lives of women with epilepsy, the influence of these drugs on pregnancy and breastfeeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study from 1st March to 31st August 2011 in the neurological department of the Fann-Dakar teaching hospital Senegal. Only women with epilepsy were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We collected 120 patients aged 16-64years with a mean age of 30.58years, 45% married, 44.16% were uneducated preponderant. All patients were taking antiepileptic drugs, 89.16% was alone. Fifty-five percent of our patients had epilepsy for at least 6years; 45.83% had generalized epilepsy; 44.17% of partial seizures. In our cohort, 64.16% were under phenobarbital, 69.16% had good adherence. As side effects of drugs, 90% had sexual problems. Seventy-five percent enjoyed an active sex life. A decrease in the number of sex per week for the disease [31/55=56.66%] was noted. In addition, 51.17% were using contraception, including 38.7% of oral kind and 64.86% had noticed an increase in seizure frequency during their pregnancies. Of the 74 women who had contracted a pregnancy, 41.89% had premature infants, 16.21% have made abortions and 61.17% had psychosocial life affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with epilepsy often experience sexual problems that may be caused by epilepsy, antiepileptic and/or reactions of the partner and the other facing the diagnosis of epilepsy.
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal. Electronic address: samimedecin01@yahoo.fr.
authors: S M L
authors: SM
authors: Dadah
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ndiaye
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Diop
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: L B
authors: LB
authors: Seck
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: N S
authors: NS
authors: Diagne
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: E H M
authors: EH
authors: Ba
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Cisse
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: N M
authors: NM
authors: Gaye
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Basse
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Sow
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal; Service de médecine préventive et de santé publique de la FMPO, université Cheikh-Anta-Diop (UCAD), BP 16 390, Dakar-Fann, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Toure
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Diop
authors: Service de neurologie, CHNU de Fann de Dakar, avenue Cheikh-Anta-Diop, BP 5035, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Ndiaye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012675:Senegal; D019529:Sexuality / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Antiepileptic; Antiépileptique; Epilepsy; Grossesse; Pregnancy; Reproductive health; Santé de reproduction; Senegal; Sénégal; Épilepsie