Other potential health risks for women with epilepsy include:
- Increased risk of conceiving children born with birth defects.
- Ovarian cysts.
- Unwanted changes in body and facial hair.
- Obesity.
- Irregular periods.
- Absent menstruation.
- Hormone-related seizures.
Weight Gain and Anti-Epileptic Drugs
Women who experience weight gain while taking certain AEDs should understand that excessive weight can led to other health risks such as:- high blood pressure,
- heart disease,
- diabetes,
- and cancer.
Unfortunately, many women who gain weight on seizure medications decide to stop medication, which only causes more episodes of seizures.
AEDs also are the potential cause of other problems such as:
- gum swelling and disfigurement,
- acne,
- unwanted growth of facial hair,
- and scalp hair loss.
If weight gain, or other unwanted side effects, is an issue for you talk to your healthcare provider about an alternative drug choice.
Hormones and Seizures
Female hormones play a significant role in the occurrence of seizures; for example, the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures often changes during puberty, during the monthly menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and menopause. An astonishing 30% to 50% of women with epilepsy experience menstrual cycle-related seizures.Do Doctors Really Understand Women and Epilepsy?
Sadly, for many women who experience menstrual cycle-related epilepsy, the fact is that not many doctors are as educated as they should be about these issues.According to a survey conducted by the Epilepsy Foundation and published in the Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine (Vol.9 No.9, 2000), the groups of physicians who were most likely to be educated about the issues unique to women with epilepsy were neurologists, endocrinologists, and epileptologists (a subgroup of neurologists specializing in epilepsy). OB/GYNs ranked fourth in their knowledge of the effects that seizure disorders in women had on reproductive health and other women's health issues. The survey included 3335 health care professionals, representing a wide range of specialties. who were likely to provide care to women with epilepsy.
The survey results revealed that:
- Most of the respondents did not understand the specific effects that estrogen and progesterone have on seizure threshold.
- Most were not educated about the menstrual-associated seizure patterns, and were not able to identify which oral contraceptives interfered with anti-epileptic drugs.
- The majority of respondents did not know that women with epilepsy have significantly more infertility, reproductive endocrine disorders, and sexual dysfunction.
Are You Seeing The Right Doctor?
The Epilepsy Foundation survey found that the respondents most likely to have correct answers were those who saw the greatest number of women with epilepsy in their practice.- If you have epilepsy and don't feel you are getting adequate treatment from your current healthcare provider, remember it's always your right to find another provider. When you are searching for a new physician, be sure to ask about the number of female epilepsy patients a physician sees before you make your choice.
Source:
Epilepsy. Healthywomen.org. http://www.healthywomen.org/healthtopics/epilepsy. Accessed 08/26/09.
