Real experience of fertility in decision-making:a qualitative study of reproductive-age women with epilepsy_Journal of Epilepsy

Authors：

QIN Xueyin , WANG Wenshuang , GU Jingjing ,  LI Qian

Epilepsy Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China;

Corresponding author：

LI Qian, Email: lqttyy@163.com

Keywords：

Epilepsy; Childbearing age; Fertility decision-making; Real experience; Qualitative research

DOI：

10.7507/2096-0247.202503012

Video：

Export PDF Favorites Scan Get Citation

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Objective To explore the real experiences of women of childbearing age with epilepsy during their reproductive decision-making process, and to provide a basis for clinical practitioners in managing the reproductive decision-making of this group of women and implementing decision support. Methods Sixteen women of childbearing age with epilepsy who were hospitalized in the Epilepsy Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical Universityi in Beijing from April 2024 to June 2024 were selected through purposive sampling. The Colaizzi phenomenological data analysis method was employed, and the data were organized and analyzed with the aid of Nvivo 11.0 software to extract themes. Results Three themes and eight sub-themes were extracted: The majority of patients had reproductive demands (personal role expectations, family and social pressure), Uncertainties in reproductive behaviors and outcomes (uncertainties in the pregnancy process caused by the disease, uncertainties in the reproductive outcome caused by the disease), and Encountering reproductive decision-making predicaments (lack of professional knowledge, conflicting information from different channels, multiple factors influencing reproductive decision-making, and various negative experiences associated with decision-making). Conclusion The majority of women of childbearing age with epilepsy have reproductive needs and encounter decision-making predicaments. Medical staff should pay attention to their true experiences, offer adequate support and assistance, and help patients extricate themselves from the decision-making predicament to make scientific and rational decisions.

Citation： QIN Xueyin, WANG Wenshuang, GU Jingjing, LI Qian. Real experience of fertility in decision-making:a qualitative study of reproductive-age women with epilepsy. Journal of Epilepsy, 2025, 11(5): 425-429. doi: 10.7507/2096-0247.202503012 Copy

1.	中华医学会神经病学分会, 中华医学会神经病学分会脑电图与癫痫学组. 中国成人局灶性癫痫规范化诊治指南. 中华神经科杂志, 2022, 55(12): 1341-1352.
2.	王玉平, 高乐虹. 重视围妊娠期癫痫患者的规范化管理. 中华神经科杂志, 2021, 54(6): 535-538.
3.	Leinonen MK, Igland J, Dreier JW, et al. Socioeconomic differences in use of antiseizure medication in pregnancies with maternal epilepsy: a population-based study from Nordic universal health care systems. Epilepsia, 2024, 65(8): 2397-2411.
4.	Miao Q, Zai G, Joiner I, et al. Associations between mental health conditions in pregnancy and maternal socioeconomic status: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada. BMC Womens Health, 2024, 24(1): 663.
5.	Fisher RS , Cross JH , French JA , et al. Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia, 2017, 58(4): 522-530.
6.	中国抗癫痫协会. 临床诊疗指南: 癫痫病分册. 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 2015.
7.	刘明. Colaizzi 七个步骤在现象学研究资料分析中的应用. 护理学杂志, 2019, 34(11): 90-92.
8.	中华医学会神经病学分会脑电图与癫痫学组. 中国围妊娠期女性癫痫患者管理指南. 中华神经科杂志, 2021, 54(6): 539-544.
9.	Li Q, Cao Y, Zhang J, et al. Pregnancy-related knowledge in women with epilepsy in childbearing age: a pilot questionnaire survey from China. Brain Behav, 2024, 14(2): e3400.
10.	董莹, 庄欢, 房钰, 等. 育龄期癌症患者生育力保存决策动机研究进展. 中国护理管理, 2024, 24(6): 952-956.
11.	邢乃芳, 姚丹, 王璐杉, 等. 育龄期女性乳腺癌患者生育决策真实体验的Meta整合. 中国护理管理, 2023, 23(5): 719-724.
12.	朱彩云, 金凤娟, 胡闽闽, 等. 我国孕妇妊娠期压力研究现状. 中华全科医学, 2020, 18(8): 1353-1357.
13.	Stephen LJ, Harden C, Tomson T, et al. Management of epilepsy in women. Lancet Neurol, 2019, 18(5): 481-491.
14.	梁嘉宁. 中国家庭生育影响因素研究. 吉林大学, 博士学位论文, 2023.
15.	Moores G, Liu K, Pikula A, et al. Fertility treatment for people with epilepsy. Pract Neurol, 2024, 24(4): 296-301.
16.	Kirkpatrick L, Harrison E, Borrero S, et al. Sexual and reproductive health concerns of women with epilepsy beginning in adolescence and young adulthood. Epilepsy Behav, 2021, 125: 108439.
17.	Li Y, Meador KJ. Epilepsy and pregnancy. Continuum (Minneap Minn), 2022, 28(1): 34-54.
18.	Menon S, Siewe Fodjo JN, Weckhuysen S, et al. Women with epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa: a review of the reproductive health challenges and perspectives for management. Seizure, 2019, 71: 312-317.

1. 中华医学会神经病学分会, 中华医学会神经病学分会脑电图与癫痫学组. 中国成人局灶性癫痫规范化诊治指南. 中华神经科杂志, 2022, 55(12): 1341-1352.
2. 王玉平, 高乐虹. 重视围妊娠期癫痫患者的规范化管理. 中华神经科杂志, 2021, 54(6): 535-538.
3. Leinonen MK, Igland J, Dreier JW, et al. Socioeconomic differences in use of antiseizure medication in pregnancies with maternal epilepsy: a population-based study from Nordic universal health care systems. Epilepsia, 2024, 65(8): 2397-2411.
4. Miao Q, Zai G, Joiner I, et al. Associations between mental health conditions in pregnancy and maternal socioeconomic status: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada. BMC Womens Health, 2024, 24(1): 663.
5. Fisher RS , Cross JH , French JA , et al. Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia, 2017, 58(4): 522-530.
6. 中国抗癫痫协会. 临床诊疗指南: 癫痫病分册. 北京: 人民卫生出版社, 2015.
7. 刘明. Colaizzi 七个步骤在现象学研究资料分析中的应用. 护理学杂志, 2019, 34(11): 90-92.
8. 中华医学会神经病学分会脑电图与癫痫学组. 中国围妊娠期女性癫痫患者管理指南. 中华神经科杂志, 2021, 54(6): 539-544.
9. Li Q, Cao Y, Zhang J, et al. Pregnancy-related knowledge in women with epilepsy in childbearing age: a pilot questionnaire survey from China. Brain Behav, 2024, 14(2): e3400.
10. 董莹, 庄欢, 房钰, 等. 育龄期癌症患者生育力保存决策动机研究进展. 中国护理管理, 2024, 24(6): 952-956.
11. 邢乃芳, 姚丹, 王璐杉, 等. 育龄期女性乳腺癌患者生育决策真实体验的Meta整合. 中国护理管理, 2023, 23(5): 719-724.
12. 朱彩云, 金凤娟, 胡闽闽, 等. 我国孕妇妊娠期压力研究现状. 中华全科医学, 2020, 18(8): 1353-1357.
13. Stephen LJ, Harden C, Tomson T, et al. Management of epilepsy in women. Lancet Neurol, 2019, 18(5): 481-491.
14. 梁嘉宁. 中国家庭生育影响因素研究. 吉林大学, 博士学位论文, 2023.
15. Moores G, Liu K, Pikula A, et al. Fertility treatment for people with epilepsy. Pract Neurol, 2024, 24(4): 296-301.
16. Kirkpatrick L, Harrison E, Borrero S, et al. Sexual and reproductive health concerns of women with epilepsy beginning in adolescence and young adulthood. Epilepsy Behav, 2021, 125: 108439.
17. Li Y, Meador KJ. Epilepsy and pregnancy. Continuum (Minneap Minn), 2022, 28(1): 34-54.
18. Menon S, Siewe Fodjo JN, Weckhuysen S, et al. Women with epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa: a review of the reproductive health challenges and perspectives for management. Seizure, 2019, 71: 312-317.

Previous Article
Reccent advance in role of electroencephalography microstates in epilepsy
Next Article
钠离子通道阻滞剂药物治疗局灶性癫痫的中国专家应用共识

Journal of Epilepsy

Real experience of fertility in decision-making:a qualitative study of reproductive-age women with epilepsy

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Previous Article

Next Article

Format

Content