IVF and epilepsy

[Cahoots]

Hi. Does anyone have experience of IVF with epilepsy?

I was just about to start my treatment for IVF (1st time) and the consultant wants me to have pre-pregnancy counselling to ensure it's safe to proceed with the treatment and my epilepsy. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and has any advice?

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

It is important to have a pre-conception counselling appointment with your specialist/epilepsy nurse - this discussion should include a review of your epilepsy, your medication, and the possible effects of medication on your unborn baby. They may change your medication to one that has a lower risk before you start treatment It should all be discussed fully with you, so you are comfortable with the information. Also take a look at tommys.org Epilepsy and planning a pregnancy for further information You need to take 5mg of folic acid as soon as you start planning a pregnancy - GP will prescribe this for you, as this is higher dose than normal.

Wishing you good luk when you do start your treatment

[Cahoots in reply to JA-fnuk]

Thank you. I had an appointment with a epilepsy nurse about 6 years ago and she said it should all be fine, the meds I'm on are the safest and I'm taking 5mg Folic Acid.

I'm supposed to start the injections on the 1st day of my cycle, which according to my app will be this Friday, but they won't let me start until they have this letter!

Hopefully they will accept the letter from 6 yrs ago as I don't know who to get this from now! Nothing has changed in that time and I haven't had any seizures since then.

[Shelly085]

I’ve not had any bother but I’ve been taking the 5mg folic acid for months, I had a letter off my consultant to say there is no contradictions with me going for it as im on the safest tablets. My consultant also did a blood test to check the level of my medication in my blood so they can compare it during pregnancy. I had my pre conception counselling session two weeks ago, all went fine. So I should think if your epilepsy is stable a you get all the letters a that everything will be fine to go ahead. Wish you all the best x

[Cahoots in reply to Shelly085]

Thank you. I had a consultation with an epilepsy nurse specialist about 6 yrs ago, when I first started TTC and have been taking 5mg folic acid since then. She said my meds are the safest too (Lamotrigine), I'm on a relatively low dose and my epilepsy is under control, so there shouldn't be any concerns

I'm hoping the IVF consultant can accept the letter from back then as I'm struggling to get an appointment with an obstetrician. Did you have to arrange that privately? I'm paying for IVF privately as I've been waiting for too long on the NHS and I'm 39 now, so just want to get on with it.

[Shelly085 in reply to Cahoots]

no I didn’t have to arrange appointment they did everything for me, I’m 37 at the min but I’m having it on nhs, mine has been quite quick, I got told I’d be waiting over 3 months but basically had all appointments in one month. I’m just waiting to pick my donor as I’m going it alone, since im currently single an I’ve always wanted kids.