title: Issues for Women with Epilepsy.
abstract: Epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs affect the menstrual cycle, aspects of contraception, reproductive health, pregnancy, and menopause through alteration of sex steroid hormone pathways. Sex steroid hormones often have an effect on seizure frequency and may alter the level of some antiepileptic drugs. Approximately one-third of women experience an increase in perimenstrual and/or periovulatory seizure frequency. Some women experience an increase in seizure frequency during pregnancy. Balancing maternal seizure control and the risk of congenital malformations associated with fetal antiepileptic drug exposure may be challenging. Some antiepileptic drugs are associated with cognitive and behavioral teratogenesis and should be avoided if possible during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epilepsy, Department of Neurology, University of Miami, 1120 Northwest, 14th Street, Suite 1329, Miami, FL 33136, USA. Electronic address: nxv146@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Naymeé J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Vélez-Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Division of Epilepsy, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Page B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Pennell
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; Catamenial; Contraception; Epilepsy; Pregnancy; Women