Evaluation of the relationship between self-management and sexual functions in female patients with epilepsy

Self-management in epilepsy is defined as the ability of patients to adapt and adhere to behavioral adjustments developed to decrease seizure frequencies and strengthen their general healt status. Sexual dysfunction or sexual satisfaction problems are frequently reported ei epileptsy patients. With this study, it was aimed to question sexual functions in women with epilepsy, to evaluate the relationship between self-management and sexual functions, and to examine the role of stigmatization in this relationship. Our research sample consists of 63 voluntary female patients with epilepsy who are followed up in our clinic. Personal data form, epilepsy self-management scale, female sexual function index, new sexual satisfaction scale and epilepsy attitude scale were applied to all patients in our sample. For the sample evaluated in our study, a low level of self-management practices was found with subscales of information management and medication management in the foreground. A positive correlation was found between epilepsy attitude scale and self-management scale scores (p=0,03; r=0,273). Sexual dysfunction has been detected in %65 of sample population. A positive relationship was found between knowledge management, one of the subscales of self-management and desire, one of the subscales of sexual function (p=0,04; r=0,25). The age and number of children of the patients with sexual dysfunction were found to be higher acoording to those without sexual dysfunction (p=0,005 ve p=0,013). Impairment in sexual functions is common in female epilepsy patients. Self-management difficulties and stigmatization are two interrelated factors that are needed to be support. The patient's higher knowlegde about epilepsy is important factor in reducing stigma and improving sexual function. Strengthening of self-management will help to increase sexual satisfaction. The use of strategies to strengthen self-management in the follow-up of epilepsy patients will also be useful in reducing sexual dysfunctions. Keywords: Epilepsy, self-management, sexual dysfunction, stigmatization