A 35-year-old woman with well-controlled epilepsy on phenytoin and her partner wish to conceive. She asks when she should stop using contraception and...

Question

A 35-year-old woman with well-controlled epilepsy on phenytoin and her partner wish to conceive. She asks when she should stop using contraception and what preconception advice is important. What should she be told?

Accepted Answer

She should receive specialist preconception counselling - phenytoin is teratogenic. She should continue effective contraception until her antiepileptic regimen has been reviewed by a neurologist, high-dose folic acid (5 mg daily) prescribed, and a plan made before attempting conception

Answer

Stop contraception immediately and try to conceive

Answer

She can conceive safely on phenytoin

Answer

Only folic acid 400 micrograms is needed

Answer

She should stop phenytoin before stopping contraception without medical advice

uk-dfsrh MCQ (SBA): Preconception Counselling Teratogenic AED

A 35-year-old woman with well-controlled epilepsy on phenytoin and her partner wish to conceive. She asks when she should stop using contraception and what preconception advice is important. What should she be told?