title: Sexual dysfunction in women with epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual functioning and variables that influence sexual functioning have not been studied in Indian women with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a pilot study, female (age, 18-45 years) outpatients with epilepsy who were in a stable sexual relationship for at least 1-year were screened using the mini international neuropsychiatric interview. Those without anxiety or depressive disorders (n = 60) were studied using the female sexual function index (FSFI; higher scores indicate better functioning). Findings were compared with age- and sex- matched sample of healthy control women drawn from the same sociodemographic population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with epilepsy had significantly poorer sexual functioning on all FSFI subscales (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain), as well as on the total scale scores, and >70% of these women were rated as dysfunctional on individual FSFI subscales and on the total scale. In multivariate analysis, use of clobazam and phenobarbitone, and longer time after the last seizure were each associated with significantly higher FSFI scores; and longer duration of epilepsy was associated with significantly lower FSFI scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a substantial impairment of sexual functioning in women with epilepsy. This study demonstrates the need for increased awareness of the problem, better case identification, and improved seizure control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS University, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS University, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harsha
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS University, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Keshava
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS University, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS University, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Sathyanarayana Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Chittaranjan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andrade
keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; epilepsy; orgasm; sexual functioning; women