title: Age-specific birth rates in women with epilepsy: a population-based study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate birth rates and use of hormonal contraception in different age groups among women with epilepsy (WWE) in comparison to women without epilepsy.
  
  
  
  Demographic data and medical information on more than 25,000 pregnant women (40,000 births), representing 95% of all pregnancies in Oppland County, Norway, were registered in the Oppland Perinatal Database in the period 1989-2011. Data were analyzed with respect to epilepsy diagnoses, and 176 women with a validated epilepsy diagnosis (303 pregnancies) were identified. Age-specific birth rates in these women were estimated and compared with age-specific birth rates in women without epilepsy in the same county.
  
  
  
  In WWE over 25 years of age, birth rates were significantly lower than in those of the same age group without epilepsy. In women below 20 years of age, birth rates were similar in those with and without epilepsy. The use of hormonal contraceptives prior to pregnancy was lower among WWE under 25 years than in the corresponding age group without epilepsy.
  
  
  
  Health professionals who counsel WWE who are of fertile age should be aware of the strongly reduced birth rates in WWE over 25 years of age, and the lower rates of use of contraceptives among young WWE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology Innlandet Hospital Trust Lillehammer Norway; National Center for Epilepsy Oslo University Hospital Norway.
authors.forename: Anette Huuse
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Farmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Oslo Norway.
authors.forename: Jacob Holter
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Grundt
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden.
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomson
authors.affiliation: National Center for Epilepsy Oslo University Hospital Norway.
authors.forename: Karl O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Nakken
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology Innlandet Hospital Trust Lillehammer Norway.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakling
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics Oslo University Hospital Ullevål Oslo Norway.
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mowinchel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology University of Oslo Norway.
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Øie
authors.affiliation: National Center for Epilepsy Oslo University Hospital Norway.
authors.forename: Morten I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lossius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
keywords: birth rates; fertility in epilepsy; pregnancy