Epilepsy and pregnancy (clinical lecture)
A.S. Kotov, K.V. Firsov
M.F. Vladimirskiy Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute
Epilepsy does not prevent pregnancy and childbirth. Complete epileptic seizure control provides normal pregnancy and childbirth. There are several factors to be considered by epileptologist, therapist, gynecologist, geneticist, obstetrician, and pediatrician which will monitor baby’s health. In epilepsy, woman’s ability to have children is reduced twice as compared with general population. This is accounted for by social and organic causes. Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) can affect the functions of endocrine system and provoke sexual disorders (i.e., hyposexuality or hypersexuality), obesity, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovaries, delayed sexual maturation, menstrual dysfunction, and ovulatory failure. Pregnancy is contraindicated for women with severe epilepsy when AEDs do not prevent frequent generalized seizures as well as severe mental illness. Epilepsy itself is not a contraindication fo r in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, one should remember that hormone injections are required to stimulate the ovaries to produce more follicles. These injections can trigger seizures. This paper discusses the management of pregnant women with epilepsy.
Keywords: epilepsy, pregnancy, delivery, eclampsia, teratogenesis.
For citation: Kotov A.S., Firsov K.V. Epilepsy and pregnancy (clinical lecture). RMJ. Medical Review. 2019;11(I):25–30.
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