Pregnancy, epilepsy, and women's issues.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Optimal treatment of women with epilepsy includes consideration of the complex interactions of sex steroid hormones with epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs, and of the potential risks of any antiepileptic drug prescribed during a pregnancy. RECENT FINDINGS Clinical studies in women with epilepsy have provided a better foundation of knowledge about the complex relationships between cycling sex steroid hormones, seizure frequency, antiepileptic drugs, contraception, and neuroendocrine abnormalities. Pregnancy registries and observational studies have provided key data that allow for a better estimation of risks to the developing fetus. SUMMARY Understanding these key factors should enable informed treatment recommendations that can reduce adverse health effects in women with epilepsy and improve both seizure control and maternal and fetal outcomes.