Synopses & Reviews
At various stages in their life cycle, women with epilepsy have different needs from men and need a more female-orientated service. However, services for people with epilepsy remain androcentric and largely ignore that 50% of the recipients of epilepsy care in the United Kingdom are female. Indeed, 40% of those women engaged with epilepsy services are of childbearing potential. Epilepsy and its treatment can affect or compromise the menstrual cycle, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, child development in the womb, post-birth childcare and menopause, just as these life stages can affect epilepsy and its management. Based on audited clinical experience over the last 10 years at one of the very few clinics for women with epilepsy in the United Kingdom and on the curriculum of the Birmingham University Masters Course in Epilepsy, this book attempts to address these issues for women with epilepsy using evidence-based recommendations for care where possible and indicating those many areas where evidence is lacking and further research is needed.
Synopsis
Women with epilepsy have different needs from men with epilepsy at various stages in their life cycle and need a more female-orientated service. Despite this, services for people with epilepsy remain androcentric and largely ignore that 50% of the recipients of epilepsy care in the United Kingdom are female. Indeed, 40% of those who engage with epilepsy services are women of childbearing potential. Epilepsy and its treatment can affect or compromise the menstrual cycle, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, child development in the womb and afterwards, child care and menopause. The menstrual cycle, contraception, pregnancy and the menopause can affect epilepsy and its management.
Synopsis
Addressing the myriad issues specific to women with epilepsy, this book provides evidence-based recommendations for their management and indicates the areas where evidence is lacking and further research is needed. Reviewing the evidence that underpins the management of women with epilepsy, the authors provide at least one Action or Review Plan for each topic and include schedules for the review of the needs of women with epilepsy at various stages in their life cycle. They include a quick reference guide to anticonvulsant drugs, their usage, doses, side effects, and contra-indications. The book is a short, up-to-date text about epilepsy written with a focus on the issues faced by women with the condition.