[The physiopathology and management of sexual dysfunction in epileptic patients]

To review sexual dysfunction in epileptic patients, which is an aspect of the disease that is often deemed as being of little importance, but which exerts a decisive influence on the quality of life of these patients.

The alterations in sexual functioning in epilepsy have a complex physiopathology, can be of different types and occur during seizures, the aura or in the intercritical periods. Their clinical expression depends on the sex and age of the patient. The severity and incidence of sexual dysfunction are influenced by the treatment being used, the psychosocial adjustment of the individual, and certain aspects of epilepsy such as the age at onset, time to progression, location of the focus, the type of seizures and the degree of control the patient has over them. The therapeutic strategy is based on adjusting or modifying the antiepileptic therapy and then treating the sexual dysfunction and/or possible hormonal upsets.

Sexuality is a fundamental human right and as a health provider, the physician must take this aspect of the disease into account when dealing with epileptic patients by attempting to detect and characterise the disorder. The patient must be informed of the possible effects of epilepsy and its treatment on sexual functioning, and also the therapeutic options the physician considers to be best suited to the patient's particular case. He or she should also be encouraged to play an active role in making decisions on the matter and it is necessary to carry out developmental monitoring that takes into account the impact that improved sexual functioning is going to have on the patient's psychosocial and family adjustment.