Pre-pregnancy counseling for women with epilepsy: Can we do better?

For many women with epilepsy (WWE), decision making about pregnancy is difficult, due mainly to the potential teratogenic risks of anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Pre-pregnancy counseling is essential to minimize these risks. This study was conducted to assess the rate and effectiveness of pre-pregnancy counseling for women treated with valproate (VPA) in Estonia.

We used outpatient prescription data from the national health insurance provider to identify all women treated with VPA during 2011-2018 in Estonia. The personal medical documentation of women who became pregnant while on VPA treatment was reviewed. Pre-pregnancy counseling history and VPA-treatment indications were analyzed.

Data from 141 women who became pregnant while on VPA treatment during 2011-2018 time period were analyzed. Of these patients, 77% had epilepsy and 19% psychiatric diagnoses. Pre-pregnancy counseling was recorded for 13% (n = 19) of women who later became pregnant. VPA monotherapy and the lack of VPA treatment indication were associated with the lack of counseling before pregnancy.

This study revealed a significant deficit in pre-pregnancy counseling for WWE treated with VPA in Estonia. Awareness of the need for such counseling should be increased among medical specialists.