How does epilepsy impact male reproductive function and fertility?
Research has found that, in many instances, epilepsy itself has an adverse effect on reproductive function and fertility. The type of epilepsy, age of onset and family history appear to have the biggest impact on reproductive dysfunction and infertility. Specifically, studies find that: • Men with early age onset of epilepsy (less than 10 years of age) are more reproductively disadvantaged than men who develop epilepsy at a later age. • Men with partial onset epilepsy are more reproductively disadvantaged than those with generalized onset epilepsy. • Temporal lobe epilepsy is linked to testicular endocrine dysfunction. • MWE who don’t have a family history of epilepsy are at a greater risk for reproductive dysfunction than MWE who do have a family history of epilepsy. Do antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have a negative impact on reproductive function and fertility? Researchers have found that some AEDs are associated with reproductive dysfunction, which adversely affects fertility. • Valproa
