Hi! I can try and answer some of your questions. My mother had Epilepsy, she had 6 children, 1 of them had Epilepsy. My older sister, she passed away, years ago. I have a Seizure Disorder, not classified as Epilepsy because I have multiple Neurological Mental/Medical Illness, i.e. BiPolar Disorder, Cluster Migraines and the Seizure Disorder. I have Grand Mal Seizures, Absence Seizures and some funky unclassified "Sleep Amnesiac Dreamstate kind".

The cause of Epilepsy is relatively unknown, Neurologists don't really know what causes it in 1 person to the next. There is a Genetic component but it is not well defined at this point in time. Primarily Genetic Epilepsies include conditions in which altered brain development or neurodegeneration are at the basis of seizures, the main, if not only, clinical feature is epilepsy, otherwise the brain is completely normal. That can be seen on Imaging studies done, which you've probably had. These are called idiopathic epilepsies, though this definition may change in the future as Genome Therapy and Genetic Testing becomes more advanced.

Depending on the Medication that you're on and the severity and type of seizures you have, would determine the risks of pregnancy. Many of the anti-seizure meds can cause birth defects, they can also make getting pregnant difficult. This is something you'd need to work with your Neurologist and OB/GYN carefully with. People with Epilepsy get married, have babies and raise families, it's not impossible, but with any serious medical illness, your treatment and management has to be worked out with your Dr.'s.

Unfortunately nobody will be able to give you a guarantee that your child won't have Epilepsy, it's just not a possibility, as there is not enough known about the exact causes of it. There may be genetic tests that you can have done that might show markers that would give information showing a predisposition to the genetic mutation for Epilepsy that may affect a child. You could ask your Neurologist about it, he/she should be able to give you answers to some of these questions. You also have to factor in the "father" and his genetics, so it's not just an easy yes/no answer.

I have 2 sons, they are now 28 and 19, my Seizure Disorder started when my youngest was 7. So, they've dealt with it for quite a while, and their pretty normal, well rounded boys. My oldest is a Fireman and my youngest just finished is Freshman year at University. I lived with my mother's & sisters Epilepsy all my life, so getting used to my own Seizures wasn't that big of a deal.

I hope you talk to your Dr.'s can help you with some of the concrete genetic answers you're looking for.

Take care,
Kat

Very good answers! I can tell you my experience. I have had epilepsy since about age 3. I’ve had 3 children, all grown now. I had no problems during pregnancy (I actually stopped having seizures while I was pregnant) and my babies were healthy. I can’t remember which medications I was on while pregnant but was fortunate to have no side affects. (That is definitely something to work closely with your doctor about.) One of my kids developed juvenile myoclonic epilepsy around age 10 and was put on medication, but her seizures stopped around age 17 and she’s been seizure free off of medicine for the last 5 years. Her seizures were different than mine and thankfully have stopped, so coincidence or genetics I don’t know.