Women With Epilepsy Conceive at Normal Rate

During the study, 36% of women with epilepsy were still having seizures. At enrollment, most of the women’s seizure types were generalized (30%) or focal only (63%). Dr. Pennell noted that the antiseizure medications that the women were taking were typical for women of reproductive age: lamotrigine monotherapy (44%), levetiracetam monotherapy (28%), monotherapy with a strong enzyme-inducing drug (12%), other polytherapy (10%), polytherapy with a strong enzyme-inducing drug (6%), other monotherapy (3%), or no antiseizure medication (2%). A few women either added or stopped drugs during the study. A total of 18 women with epilepsy and 15 healthy controls dropped out.

As expected, age affected the likelihood of becoming pregnant, as well as number of prior pregnancies. Body mass index did not affect the likelihood of becoming pregnant, while white race and being married increased the likelihood.

In future analyses, the investigators are planning on checking whether ovulatory rates, frequency of intercourse, and time of intercourse had any impact on pregnancy, and in women with epilepsy, they will check the effect of the type of antiseizure medication and seizure-related factors.

“I think our findings will stand with future analyses.” Dr. Harden said. “The most interesting future findings may come from within the epilepsy group,” she said, noting that older antiepileptic medications have been previously associated with difficulty conceiving.

The WEPOD study was funded by the Milken Family Foundation, the Epilepsy Therapy Project, and the Epilepsy Foundation.