Types of planned contraception that may work well for you
- Contraceptive implants
- Condoms
- Depo-Provera contraceptive injections
- Diaphragms and caps
- Femidoms
- The coil
- The Mirena coil
Types of planned contraception that may work for you (but see information below about extra things to consider)
- Combined oral contraceptive pill (the Pill)
- Contraceptive patches
- Vaginal rings
- Progestogen-only pill (the mini pill)
Combined oral contraceptive pill (the Pill), contraceptive patches and vaginal rings
Research on a small group of women has shown the following.
The Pill, contraceptive patches and vaginal rings may reduce the amount of lamotrigine in your bloodstream. This would make you more at risk of having seizures. If you take lamotrigine and want to take the Pill, or use contraceptive patches or vaginal rings, it’s advisable to discuss this further with your doctor or epilepsy specialist. They may need to increase your dosage of lamotrigine.
Lamotrigine may make the Pill, contraceptive patches and vaginal rings work less well. This would make you more at risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Your doctor might also advise you to use condoms as well, until they can be sure that the Pill, contraceptive patches or vaginal rings would prevent you from getting pregnant. The doctor can check this by giving you blood tests at certain times of the month. The blood tests would show if the contraception has stopped you from ovulating (releasing an egg). This would mean that you shouldn’t get pregnant.
Progestogen-only pill (the mini pill)
Research on a small group of women has shown that lamotrigine may make the mini-pill work less well. This would make you more at risk of an unplanned pregnancy. If you choose to take the mini-pill, your doctor may advise you to use condoms as well, until they can be sure that the mini-pill would prevent you from getting pregnant. The doctor can check this by giving you blood tests at certain times of the month. The blood tests would show if the mini-pill has stopped you from ovulating (releasing an egg), which would mean that you shouldn’t get pregnant.
The mini-pill only works well if you take it according to the instructions from your doctor. This usually means taking it at the same time each day. If you don’t, there is a risk that you will get pregnant.
Types of planned contraception that are not recommended for any woman with epilepsy
- Natural birth control methods
Types of emergency contraception that may work well for you if you take lamotrigine
- Levonelle (‘morning after’ pill)
- EllaOne (‘morning after’ pill)
- The coil
We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.
Epilepsy Action would like to thank Dr Margaret Jackson, Consultant Neurologist at Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK and Janine Winterbottom, Epilepsy Specialist Nurse at The Walton Centre, Liverpool, UK for their contribution to this information.
Dr Margaret Jackson and Janine Winterbottom have no conflict of interest to declare.
This information has been produced under the terms of The Information Standard.
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Updated July 2012To be reviewed July 2014
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