Epilepsy is a common chronic medical illness. Hyposexuality is the most frequent abnormality in men and women with epilepsy. In men with epilepsy, hypoandrogenimia, hypogonadism and sperm abnormalities are common. Testicular atrophy was also infrequently reported. In women with epilepsy, hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries (PCOs) and PCO syndrome are frequent. Decreased serum free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone levels, free androgen index and free testosterone/leutinizing hormone (LH) ratio and increased sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol, prolactin, LH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and LH/FSH ratio are common with epilepsy. Disturbance of central and/or peripheral control of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and alteration of central neurotrasmitters (GABA, glutamate and serotonin) by epileptic discharges or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), direct gonadal toxicity by AEDs and pcyshicatric/psychosocial factors are all incriminated in sexual, reproductive and gonadal abnormalities associated with epilepsy. Patients may benefit from multidisplinary evaluation, tight seizure control, change the AED, androgen therapy, genital vasodilators, L-carnitine supplementation and psychotherapy.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sherifa A. Hamed (2016) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: