Issues Surrounding Reproductive Health in Women with Epilepsy: Esther Bui, MD

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Women with seizures can't safely stop their medications… yet our seizure medications can cause potential harm to the developing fetus. It's a fine balance that women have to walk.

Epilepsy remains one of the most prevalent neurological diseases in the world, affecting an estimated 50 million people across the globe. Managing the condition is often complex, particularly for patients striving for optimal seizure control and quality of life. This is especially critical for women with epilepsy, considering the interplay of hormonal influences, medication interactions, gender specific health risks, and reproductive considerations

Providing care strategies for patients with epilepsy was among the key focuses at the 2025 American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting, held December 5-9, in Atlanta, Georgia. Speakers presented new data and ongoing analysis to deliver the latest insights to those in attendance. Among them, Esther Bui, MD, an assistant professor in the Division of Neurology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at the University of Toronto, delivered a talk titled Reproductive Health and Epilepsy. Her presentation focused on women's health and managing epilepsy in women during their reproductive years.

In an exclusive interview with NeurologyLive, Bui discusses the numerous challenges that both epileptologists and patients encounter when navigating reproductive health in the context of epilepsy. She highlighted the difficulties pregnant women face in balancing seizure control with fetal safety, emphasizing that discontinuing antiseizure medications is usually not a viable option. Bui also reflected on the historical gaps in knowledge and past clinical practices that continue to shape current understanding of reproductive health in women with epilepsy. Furthermore, she addressed the broader society factors that influence care for women during their reproductive years.

Click here for more AES 2025 coverage.