Doctors 'failing epileptic women'

Women with epilepsy are more likely to have problems during pregnancy

Pregnant women who have epilepsy are not receiving proper care from doctors, according to a study.

Research carried out at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle suggests that the failure of doctors to follow guidelines on the care of epileptic women of child bearing age can have catastrophic consequences.

Their study found that many women are not receiving the advice and information they need.

Epileptic women who want to become pregnant are supposed to seek advice from their doctor.

This is because their medication is at risk of interfering with contraception and the development of their babies.

Their children are also at increased risk of developing Spina Bifida and women with epilepsy are advised to take extra folic acid supplements to guard against problems.

Some doctors are still quite ignorant about pregnancy among women with epilepsy

British Epilepsy Association spokeswoman

But the Newcastle research reveals that doctors are failing to get these messages across.

The study of 359 women with epilepsy who had given birth found that just one in three were receiving proper care, by receiving counselling or being prescribed supplements.

However, half of the women questioned became pregnant by accident, largely because of the failure of their contraceptive.

But the researchers said that figure showed that there was a need for doctors to do more to ensure women with epilepsy who are of child bearing age are given proper information.

The researchers said: "Most women with epilepsy in our region are supervised by their general practitioner.

"[But] control of seizures is poor, compliance with medication is variable and methods of preconceptional counselling are ineffective."

Care

One of the researchers, Susan Fairgrieve, a genetic nurse specialist, told BBC News Online that doctors needed to do more.

"These women are not particularly getting the best care they need.

"This may be because they have been diagnosed with epilepsy early in life and when the get older and reach child bearing age they are not receiving the information they need."

A spokeswoman for the British Epilepsy Association said women with the condition should receive specialist care.

"Their pregnancies should be monitored by an epilepsy specialist and an obstetrician."

She said some of the problems of unplanned pregnancies arise because doctors do not asking women with epilepsy if they are taking contraception.

"Not all GPs or consultants ask women if they are taking the pill. This is a problem because women with epilepsy are more likely to become pregnant because of their drugs can react against contraceptives."

She added: "Some doctors are still quite ignorant about pregnancy among women with epilepsy.

"Some are quite wrongly told by doctors that they must never have a baby. We have also heard of cases where women have been told to have a termination or a hysterectomy.

"There are some doctors who are still living in the dark ages."