Critical aspects of the treatment of women with schizophrenia in their reproductive years
| Critical aspects | Findings | Potential strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Early phases of disorder | Prodromal signs of psychosis differ between men and women | Training to recognize sex-specific prodromal signs [26, 27] |
| High prevalence of childhood adversities in schizophrenia women | Careful history taking and early intervention [26] | |
| Negative influence of hyperprolactinemia on cognition | Screening, prevention, and monitoring of hyperprolactinemia [27, 28] | |
| Sexual and reproductive health | Sexual dysfunction | Sexual health interventions [29] |
| Abortion and sexual violence | Psychoeducation, family planning [30–35] | |
| Sexually transmissible infections relatively high in schizophrenia women | Counselling re safe and effective protection and contraception [28, 32, 33, 36, 37] | |
| Drug-induced hyperprolactinemia | Drug-induced hyperprolactinemia more prevalent in women than men (e.g., galactorrhea, amenorrhea) | Appropriate choice and dose of antipsychotics and regular check of prolactin levels [38] |
| Low fertility | Hyperprolactinemia reduces fertility | Personalized drug choice and dose [39, 40] |
| Repeat pregnancies | Repeated inadvertent pregnancies | Psychoeducation [39] Long-term contraception |