Preparing for Pregnancy

 

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woman on couch with journal preparing for pregnancy

Planning for a pregnancy can be an exciting time. Planning is also an important step in your journey that can help promote a safe, healthy pregnancy while living with epilepsy. When you plan, you can prepare yourself for things like maintaining your seizure control and supporting your health, which will help to minimize the risk of complications during your pregnancy. 

Let’s say you are at the beginning stages of planning your pregnancy. Call your doctor and discuss when you would like to get pregnant. Each person is different, which means each person's pregnancy plan will look different from one another's. Some people want to get pregnant as soon as possible and others may want to get pregnant several years in the future. It’s recommended to start planning with your doctor as much as 12 months before you start trying to get pregnant.  

One of the most important items before getting pregnant is getting your seizures as controlled as possible before getting pregnant. If you’ve tried two or more ASMs and your seizures aren’t controlled, your doctor should refer you to an epilepsy specialist.  

When you are pregnant, research has shown that some anti-seizure medications (ASMs) are more suitable than others. Before you try, consult with your doctor about possibly switching your ASM to one with the lowest risk profile for you and your baby that still works to control your seizures.

Ideally, any ASM changes and dose adjustments are done well before you get pregnant. Switching or adjusting your dosage can take 3-12 months, depending on the ASM you are taking. Switching or stopping medications once you’re already pregnant isn’t typically recommended. Changing medications while actively trying to conceive can unnecessarily expose your baby to multiple medications. It’s not advised to stop taking your ASM unless your doctor recommends this. 

Many people worry about fertility, whether they have epilepsy or not. However, people with epilepsy are just as likely to get pregnant as people without epilepsy. According to research, there are no differences in pregnancy rates or the time it takes to conceive. There is also research that indicates fertility treatments work just as well for people with epilepsy compared to those without epilepsy.

The ASM you take for your epilepsy also shouldn’t affect your ability to get pregnant. However, some research has shown that patients with generalized epilepsy taking valproic acid are at risk of developing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS sometimes affects fertility. Consult with your epilepsy care provider if you are taking valproic acid and are concerned about PCOS.

Sometimes people have difficulty getting pregnant whether they have epilepsy or not. Let your doctors, including your epilepsy care team, know if you’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months or more. They can refer you to a fertility specialist, like an OB-GYN or reproductive endocrinologist. 

The cause of epilepsy is different for each person. It’s not likely that a parent with epilepsy will pass it on to their child. Research shows that there is only a slightly higher risk of children developing epilepsy when their parents have epilepsy (3.5-6%) than when their parents don’t have epilepsy (1-2%).  

However, there are certain situations that increase the likelihood of a parent passing epilepsy to their child (e.g., when the parent has a parent or sibling with the condition). Your level of risk depends on your specific situation, so you should consult with your healthcare team if you have concerns. 

Authored By:

Naymee J Velez Ruiz, MD FAES

on Sunday, November 05, 2023
on Sunday, November 05, 2023

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