[Menstrual pattern characteristics in female adolescents with epilepsy]

There are multiple adverse effects from anti-epileptic drugs, including menstrual irregularities such as amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, gynecomastia, galactorrhea and polycystic ovary syndrome. In view of the paucity of information, the purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of menstrual disorders in female adolescents with epilepsy in a tertiary care pediatric hospital.

Female adolescents with epilepsy, older than 9 years and with more than 1 year with epilepsy were included. Initially, pubertal stage was identified. During 6 months, menstrual patterns were assessed. Among those with detected menstrual disorders, a hormonal profile and gynecological ultrasound were performed. Statistical analysis was descriptive.

24 patients with a median of 13 years of age; 40 % with overweight or obesity. Most received more than two anti-epileptic drugs. Sixteen patients (66.6 %) had one or more menstrual disorders: 10 had menorrhagia, 6 polymenorrhea, 6 dysmenorrhea, 4 opsomenorrhea; 4 had primary amenorrhea and 1 secondary amenorrhea. There were four patients with hyperprolactinemia and three with hypothyroidism. Evolution time and treatment of epilepsy, as well as the number of anti-epileptic drugs were higher among those with menstrual disorders.

The high frequency of menstrual disorders in female adolescents with epilepsy should be taken into account as part of the comprehensive treatment of these patients.