Epilepsy and unintended pregnancies
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Women with epilepsy (WWE) have increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and child.1,2 Some of these risks can be reduced by planning prior to pregnancy. Risks of major congenital malformations and adverse cognitive/behavioral outcomes are higher for certain antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). For example, guidelines recommend avoiding the use of valproate during pregnancy.1 However, waiting until a woman knows she is pregnant and contacts her physician creates a risk of fetal exposure during early pregnancy. Further, changing AED during pregnancy risks precipitating seizures. Waiting until a woman is planning pregnancy does not work as many pregnancies are unplanned. Even in the general population, unintended pregnancies may increase the risk of unfavorable outcomes and of abortions (42% in 2011 excluding miscarriages).3,4 Thus, understanding the rates of unintended pregnancy in WWE is important. No prior large-scale studies have examined the rate and predictors of unintended pregnancies in WWE, despite the fact that some AEDs with enzyme-inducing properties can lower hormonal contraceptive levels.
Footnotes
See page 728
- © 2017 American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Dr. Jessica Ailani and Dr. Ailna Masters-Israilov
► Watch
Related Articles
Alert Me
Recommended articles
-
Article
Predictors of unintended pregnancy in women with epilepsyAndrew G. Herzog, Hannah B. Mandle, Kaitlyn E. Cahill et al.Neurology, January 25, 2017 -
Article
Prevalence of highly effective contraception use by women with epilepsyAndrew G. Herzog, Hannah B. Mandle, Devon B. MacEachern et al.Neurology, May 17, 2019 -
Article
Unintended pregnancy, prenatal care, newborn outcomes, and breastfeeding in women with epilepsyEmily L. Johnson, Anne E. Burke, Anqi Wang et al.Neurology, August 10, 2018 -
Articles
An overview of oral contraceptivesMechanism of action and clinical useCheryl A. Frye et al.Neurology, March 27, 2006