Epilepsy in China: Factors influencing marriage status and fertility

•In total, 62.1% patients were married, 45.1% patients had a history of fertility.•PWE with early age of seizure onset (18 years) had a significantly higher rate of marriage and fertility (p ＜ 0.001) compared to those with childhood-onset epilepsy (≤18 years). Employed patients had higher marriage rates than unemployed patients (64.9% vs 58.6%, p = 0.006), with only male patients being significantly affected by employment status (p ＜ 0.001). Multiple logistic regression revealed that age, age at first seizure onset, and employment status were related to both marriage and fertility. Epilepsy had negative effects on marriage and fertility status. Marriage and fertility rates were lower in patients with Childhood-onset epilepsy (≤18 years). Furthermore, employment status mainly affected the marriage rate of male patients.