Women With Epilepsy: Pregnancy Outcomes and Deliveries

This is a three-center prospective case-control study to examine the patterns of fertility among women with epilepsy (WWE) compared to an age-matched group of women without epilepsy (WWoE).

This is a three-center prospective case-control study to examine the patterns of fertility among women with epilepsy (WWE) compared to an age-matched group of women without epilepsy (WWoE). The investigators will determine if pregnancy rates differ in WWE compared to WWoE. Covariates of interest include proportion of ovulatory cycles, sexual activity, and type of anti-epileptic drug (AED). The investigators will compare seizure frequency during preconception to seizure frequency during pregnancy, with analysis of covariates of interest (AED type, AED ratio-to-target concentrations, and epilepsy syndrome). The investigators will also observe interactions between seizures/epilepsy, AEDs, and sex steroid hormones during this opportune time when women are not on birth control. Patterns of seizures will be evaluated for accepted catamenial patterns with consideration of ovulatory and anovulatory cycles, AED concentrations, and epilepsy type.