Relationships are a normal
part of life. People come into and out of your
life regularly - from the day you are born.
When
do I talk about epilepsy?
All people worry about dates and dating, whether
or not they have epilepsy. These worries can
intensify when there's the possibility of having
a seizure in public or while on a date.
All people with epilepsy
sooner or later face some questions such as:
- Do I tell this person
that I have epilepsy?
- When should I tell
them?
- How much should I
tell them?
- How will they react?
- Will they still want
to see me?
There is no reason to
blurt everything out in the first 5 minutes
- unless the seizures are so frequent that one
might happen on the first date, perhaps wait
until the ice is broken and trust and openness
have developed in the relationship. This trust
may happen on the first date or the tenth date,
or may never happen.
Its always hard to know
who and when to tell someone that you have epilepsy.
Many people get very stressed about doing this
and sometimes avoid dating and relationships
for a long time.
If you feel a relationship
is going nowhere, then maybe there is no reason
to discuss the epilepsy. If things are developing
slowly but it shows potential, it is OK to talk
about it.
Although it may be difficult,
iIt is best to tell the other person face to
face, not by telephone or by letter.
Epilepsy should not be
made the focus of the conversation, just discuss
it, answer any questions and then move on to
other things. Epilepsy is something you have
but should not define who you are.
When to tell someone
is very individual, and really depends a lot
on how comfortable you are with it.
Rejection
Rejection is something everyone is likely to
experience at some time or another.
Some relationships break
down very early, and others break up after a
long time. It's all a learning experience, and
may hurt at the time, but sometimes you just
have to accept it wasn't meant to be. Epilepsy
should not be a reason to break up.
Sex
People with epilepsy enjoy all the same feelings
and pleasures as others and have normal sex
lives.
There is no evidence
to suggest that seizures are more likely to
occur during sex, it is in fact, quite rare.
Occasionally, seizures may be more likely to
occur during or shortly after physical exertion
and intense emotional experiences. In this case,
some modifications may be needed for the enjoyment
of an active sex life.
Contraception
It is important to be aware that some antiepileptic
medication can interfere with the contraceptive
pill. Contraception
- Choices Explained
Fertility
Most people with epilepsy have normal sex lives,
are fertile, and are able to have perfectly
healthy children.
Nevertheless, epilepsy,
its treatment, and other associated disorders
may affect fertility and reproduction.
Males
with epilepsy may have slightly reduced fertility.
Hormonal changes associated with the seizures
may contribute to the problem. In addition,
sperm production may be reduced in men who take
antiepileptic medications.
Females
with epilepsy may also have higher rates of
infertility. Antiepileptic medications and irregular
periods possibly contribute to this infertility.
Sexual
Problems
These are common in the general community but
may sometimes be worsened because of fear of
seizures, medication or problems like depression.
Click these link to learn about some common
sexual issues and where to get help:
Sex
Matters Factsheet
TeenHealth
- Are you ready for sex?
Other sites
Teen
Central - Teen help for teen problems
Teen
Relationships - Teen issues on sexuality, STD's,
peer pressure, pregnancy etc
Young
People and Relationships - Talks about peer
pressure and bullying
1300
EPILEPSY (1300 37 45 37)
Australia-wide
PriorityCall
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