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Epilepsy and Fertility

Last Updated:
3 Aug 2009
Review Due Date:
3 Feb 2010
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Many women with epilepsy are able to get pregnant naturally. However, some women with epilepsy are slightly less fertile than women who don’t have epilepsy. This may be due to having epilepsy itself or taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). This means that you may find it takes you longer to get pregnant than a woman who doesn’t have epilepsy, or that you may need to explore fertility treatment.

Having epilepsy and taking AEDs would not prevent you from receiving fertility treatment, if your doctor thought this might help you to get pregnant. A few women may experience a small increase in the number of seizures when taking certain hormone-based fertility drugs.  

 

 

More in this section: 

  • Sexual development (puberty)
  • Sex life
  • Your periods (the menstrual cycle)
  • Contraception
  • The menopause and HRT
  • Epilepsy and fertility
  • Planning a baby
  • Scans and tests during pregnancy
  • Giving birth
  • Breastfeeding
  • Caring for children
  • Inheriting epilepsy
  • How you can help Epilepsy Action
  • Epilepsy Mine

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    Women and epilepsy

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    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.
    ‹ The menopause and HRTupFertility and your periods (the menstrual cycle) ›