Pharmakotherapie und Kinderwunsch

Pharmacotherapy and the desire to have children is a challenging topic that mainly but not exclusively affects women of childbearing age, who make up one third of all female patients with epilepsy. This article presents the current study data, critically examines the resulting recommendations for people with epilepsy and a desire to have children and discusses own experiences in the treatment of women of childbearing age or pregnant women with epilepsy. In the synopsis, the findings on the subject of increased risk of malformations could be largely confirmed and a few new data will change our approach in certain points. An anticipatory selection of antiseizure medication in women of childbearing age, proactive information and pragmatic management of unintended pregnancy should help decrease the risk of teratogenicity and to reduce complications for mother and child during pregnancy.