Abstracts

Rationale: We have previously published data showing a higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in youths with epilepsy compared to controls. Youths with epilepsy may also be more susceptible to risk-taking behaviour. The aim of this presentation was to investigate sexual behaviour in youth with epilepsy (YWE) aged 13-19 compared to controls in a Norwegian County. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and based on questionnaires from youths with epilepsy aged 13-19. 19995 questionnaires were filled in (response rate 85 %). 247 youths (1.2%) reported having or having had epilepsy. Student’s t test and chi square test were used testing for group differences for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Results: 44 % of YWE reported having had sexual intercourse compared to 35 % of controls (p= 0.001). There was a gender difference showing that 49 % of boys with epilepsy reported having had sexual intercourse compared to 33 % of boys without epilepsy (p= < 0.001). No difference was found in girls. Age at menarche was not significantly different between girls with or without epilepsy (12,4 vs. 12,6 years). Age at first sexual intercourse was 14 years for YWE vs. 15 years in controls (p= 0.001). Boys with epilepsy reported even a lower age at sexual debut compared to boys without epilepsy (13, 8 vs. 14, 8 years, p= 0.007). The difference was not so prominent in girls with epilepsy. Age at sexual debut in girls with epilepsy was 14,3 years compared to 15,2 years in girls without epilepsy (p= 0.05). 70 % of YWE had used contraceptives at last sexual intercourse compared to 76% of controls (ns). Conclusions: Youth with epilepsy have a lower age at first sexual intercourse. The effect is more profound in boys than in girls. We believe that youth with epilepsy are more prone to risk taking behaviour and this can be seen even in sexual behaviour. Special attention and guidance of youth with epilepsy could help prevent consequences like sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies, as well as the possible emotional burden.