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Epilepsy - Contraception / Pregnancy
Issues
This leaflet provides some initial advice about contraception and pregnancy for women who have epilepsy. However, it is best to seek expert advice on these issues from a doctor or epilepsy nurse when you are planning to start using contraception or when considering starting a family. There are other leaflets in this series that give general information about epilepsy.
There are different types of epilepsy. Other leaflets in this series include: 'Epilepsy - A General Introduction', 'Epilepsy - Partial Seizures', 'Epilepsy - Childhood Absence Seizures', 'Epilepsy - Could It Be?', 'Epilepsy - Living With Epilepsy', 'Epilepsy - Treatments', 'Epilepsy - Tonic-clonic Seizures', 'Epilepsy - Dealing With a Seizure', 'Epilepsy and Sudden Unexpected Death'. Contraception
Some antiepilepsy medicines have a side-effect of increasing the speed in which some contraceptive pills and injections are processed by the liver. (These medicines are known as liver enzyme inducers as they speed up certain processes in the liver cells.) The following antiepilepsy medicines are liver enzyme inducers:  carbamazepine  oxcarbazepine  phenobarbital  phenytoin  primidone  topiramate The other antiepilepsy medicines, including sodium valproate, lamotrigine and ethosuximide, are not liver enzyme inducers. If you are taking an antiepilepsy medicine which is not a liver enzyme inducer then your contraceptive choices, doses, etc, are then usually the same as for any other women. (However, see below about lamotrigine.) See separate leaflet called 'Contraceptive Choices' for details of the options.
However, if you are taking an antiepilepsy medicine that is a liver enzyme inducer, then the following is recommended:  If you take the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) - the dose of the
oestrogen part needs to be at least 50 micrograms, which is more than the usual dose. However, it is usually preferable to use an alternative contraception, if possible.  The progestogen-only pill is not recommended.
 Progestogen implants are not recommended.
 The combined transdermal contraceptive patch is not recommended.
 If you use emergency contraception tablets - the initial dose of levonorgestrel
should be increased to 3 mg (you will need to take two tablets instead of one).  The progestogen injection called Depo-Provera® does not interfere with liver
enzyme-inducing drugs. You can continue with your usual injection every twelve weeks.
Note: using either barrier methods of contraception or having any type of coil inserted
(including the intrauterine system, Mirena®) are usually the most suitable forms of
contraception to consider if you are taking a liver enzyme-inducing drug for your epilepsy.
Special consideration - lamotrigine and the pill
There is some evidence that the COCP (the pill) may interact with lamotrigine (Lamictal®) in
some women. Lamotrigine is an antiepilepsy medicine. It is not a liver enzyme inducer but
may interact with the COCP in another way. The interaction may work both ways. That is,
the lamotrigine may make the pill less effective and the pill may also make the lamotrigine
less effective and increase your risk of seizures. Therefore, the doses of both medications
may need to be adjusted.
It may be preferable to consider an alternative method of contraception if you are taking lamotrigine and need to use contraception. Note: for reliable contraception, it is best to seek advice from a doctor or nurse. They will be
able to tell you if your epilepsy treatment affects any methods of contraception.
Pregnancy
Most pregnant women with epilepsy have a normal pregnancy and childbirth.
The frequency of seizures may increase in pregnancy in around 3 in 10 women with epilepsy. For women with epilepsy, the risk of complications during pregnancy and labour is slightly higher than for women without epilepsy. The small increase in risk is due to the small risk of harm coming to a baby if you have a serious seizure whilst pregnant, and also the possible small risk of harm to an unborn baby from some antiepilepsy medicines (discussed further below).
Note: the risk of complications to your unborn baby is greater with a seizure compared with
the risk of not taking your epilepsy medication.
Risk from antiepilepsy medicines
Until recently it was thought that if you take antiepilepsy medicines when you are pregnant,
you have a very small increased risk of having a baby with a birth defect. However, this may
depend on exactly which medicine you take.
A large research study published in 2011 concluded that taking a newer antiepilepsy medicine whilst pregnant - that is lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, gabapentin, or levetiracetam - was not associated with an increased risk of having a baby with a major birth defect.
Previous research on older antiepilepsy medicines - that is phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproate, and carbamazepine - had shown that taking these during pregnancy gave a small increased risk of having a baby with a birth defect. For example, a small increased risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (such as spina bifida), facial defects, congenital heart defects and hypospadias (a defect of the penis).
This study mentioned above followed up 1,532 Danish women who were taking one of these newer medicines and who had given birth. The rate of serious birth defects in children born was no different to the rate of the normal population. A research study such as this is very reassuring and gives good evidence about the safety of these medicines during pregnancy. However, it does not guarantee that there is absolutely no risk. For example, this study mainly looked at the rate of serious birth defects such as neural tube defects (for example, spina bifida), facial defects, and congenital heart defects. It did not specifically look for less serious or more subtle possible problems. Further research would be welcome to confirm the safety of the newer antiepilepsy medicines.
Before becoming pregnant
Before becoming pregnant, it is best to seek advice from your doctor or epilepsy nurse. You
should be seen by an epilepsy expert to discuss your treatment during your pregnancy in
detail. The potential risks and benefits of adjusting your treatment, if necessary, can be discussed. If your pregnancy is planned carefully then any risk of complications may be minimised. Most of the advice is the same as for any other woman who is planning a pregnancy. (See separate leaflet called 'Pregnancy - Planning to Become Pregnant?'. For example, advice on diet, smoking, alcohol, avoiding infection, etc.) However, other things that may be discussed include:  In some cases it may be wise to change to a different medication which is less likely to cause harm to a developing baby (depending on the medication you are already taking).  It may be an option to stop or reduce the dose of your treatment before you become pregnant if your seizures have been well controlled. However, deciding to come off antiepilepsy medication can be a difficult decision. Factors such as the type of epilepsy that you have can be important. For example, if you have the type of epilepsy that causes severe tonic-clonic seizures, there is a risk that you could have a severe seizure when you are pregnant if you stop your medication.  Advice to take folic acid at a strength of 5 mg a day. This should ideally be taken before you become pregnant and continued until you are 12 weeks pregnant. Although folic acid is recommended for all women who are pregnant, the dose for women taking antiepilepsy medicines is higher than usual. Taking folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of having a baby born with a spinal cord problem such as spina bifida.  Advice to notify your pregnancy to the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register (www.epilepsyandpregnancy.co.uk). This is to allow information to be gathered to improve the future management of pregnant women with epilepsy.
Breast-feeding
Breast-feeding for most women taking antiepilepsy medicines is generally safe. Your doctor,
midwife or health visitor can advise you in more detail.
What are the risks that your child will also have epilepsy?
In general, the probability is low that a child born to a parent with epilepsy will also have epilepsy. However, it can partly depend on your family history, as some types of epilepsy run in families. Therefore, genetic counselling may be an option to consider if you or your partner has epilepsy and also a family history of epilepsy.
Further information
Epilepsy Action
New Anstey House, Gateway Drive, Leeds, LS19 7XY
Helpline: 0808 800 5050 Web: www.epilepsy.org.uk
National Society For Epilepsy
Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Bucks, SL9 0RJ
Helpline: 01494 601 400 Web: www.epilepsynse.org.uk
Epilepsy Scotland
48 Govan Road, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 1JL
Helpline: 0808 800 2200 Web: www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk
Epilepsy Wales
PO Box 4168, Cardiff, CF14 0WZ
Helpline: 08457 413 774 Web: www.epilepsy-wales.org.uk
References
 Epilepsy, Clinical Knowledge Summaries (June 2009)  Bromley RL, Baker GA, Meador KJ; Cognitive abilities and behaviour of children exposed to antiepileptic drugs in utero. Curr Opin Neurol. 2009 Apr;22(2):162-6. [abstract]  No authors listed; Intrauterine devices: an effective alternative to oral hormonal contraception. Prescrire Int. 2009 Jun;18(101):125-30. [abstract]  Walker SP, Permezel M, Berkovic SF; The management of epilepsy in pregnancy. BJOG. 2009 May;116(6):758-67. [abstract]  Burakgazi E, Harden C, Kelly JJ; Contraception for women with epilepsy. Rev Neurol  Molgaard-Nielsen D, Hviid A; Newer-generation antiepileptic drugs and the risk of major birth defects. JAMA. 2011 May 18;305(19):1996-2002. [abstract] Comprehensive patient resources are available at www.patient.co.uk Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.
EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor
or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.
EMIS 2011 Reviewed: 7 Jul 2011 DocID: 4769 Version: 39For the planned review period see the Data Creation and Quality Control Process.

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