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Infertility and menstrual disorders: Seizure medications vs. seizures

  • Esther Bui
  • , Cynthia L. Harden
  • , M. Sazgar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A 30-year-old woman has a long standing history of generalized tonic-clonic seizures since age 15. During an inpatient epilepsy monitoring, her seizures were found to originate from dominant hemisphere frontal lobe. She has declined epilepsy surgery due to potential risks for complications. In the past she was treated with multiple seizure medications including phenytoin, carbamazepine, topiramate, valproic acid, and lamotrigine. Currently, she is treated on a combination of lacosamide and levetiracetam and experiences at least one break through seizure per month. She is married and has been trying to become pregnant in the past 4 years with no success. During her office visit, she mentions that her menstrual periods are irregular and her gynecologist has determined that she has anovulatory cycles and decreased chance for becoming pregnant. She also has noticed weight gain and thinning of her hair, acne and excess facial hair. She is wondering whether her condition is a result of her seizure disorder or her medications and if there is anything she can do to improve her condition.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationControversies in Caring for Women with Epilepsy
Subtitle of host publicationSorting Through the Evidence
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Pages87-97
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)9783319291703
ISBN (Print)9783319291680
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antiepileptic drugs
  • Enzyme-inducing drugs
  • Enzyme-inhibiting drugs
  • Estrogen
  • Fertility
  • Follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
  • Hormones
  • Hypothalamus
  • Infertility
  • Libido
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Ovaries
  • Ovulation
  • Pituitary
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Pregnancy
  • Premature menopause
  • Progesterone
  • Seizures
  • Stigma
  • Temporal lobe
  • Testosterone
  • Valproate
  • Women with epilepsy

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