Research on Male Factor Infertility & Acupuncture
For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has used acupuncture and herbs to increase male infertility due to various causes. Below, several recent studies have been included that support the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of male factor infertility. Acupuncture can improve sperm quality which can greatly improve a couple's chance of a natural pregnancy or IVF/ICSI success. By helping to improve the quality of the embryo and decreasing the chances of miscarriage, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be utilized successfully in IVF protocols.
Acupuncture can improve sperm quality and fertilization rates in assisted reproductive technology.
The clinical effects of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in sperm parameter and on therapeutic results in assisted reproductive technology were investigated. 22 patients failed in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with idiopathic male infertility were treated with acupuncture twice weekly for eight weeks, followed by ICSI treatment again. The sperm concentration, motility, morphology, fertlization rates and embryo quality were observed. Quick sperm motility after acupuncture (18.3% +/- 9.6%) was significantly improved as compared with that before treatment (11.0% +/- 7.5%, P< 0.01). The normal sperm ratio was increased after acupuncture (21.1% +/- 10.4% vs 16.2% +/- 8.2%, P< 0.05). The fertilization rates after acupuncture (66.2%) were obviously higher than that before treament (40.2%, P < 0.01). The embryo quality after acupuncture
was improved. Acupuncture can improve sperm quality and fertilization rates in assisted technology.
Source: "Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproduction therapy." Dr. M. Zhang et al. J Huazhong Univ SCI Technology Med SCI 2002; 22(3):228-30.
Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility to low sperm quality.
The aim of this prospective controlled study was to assess the effect of acupuncture on the sperm quality of males suffering from subfertility related to sperm impairment. Semen samples of 16 acupuncture-treated subfertile patients were analyzed before and 1 month after treatment (twice a week for 5 weeks). In parallel, semen samples of 16 control untreated subfertile males were examined. Two specimens were taken from the control group at an interval of 2-8 months. The expanded semen analysis included routine and ultramorphological observations. The fertility index increased significantly (p < or = .05) following improvement in the total functional sperm fraction, percentage of viability, total motile spermatozoa per ejaculate, and the integrity of the axonema (p < or = .05), which occured upon treatment. The intactness of axonema and sperm motility were highly correlated (corr. = .50). Thus, patients exhibiting a low potential due to reduced sperm activity may benefit from acupuncture treaments.
Source: Arch Androl. 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2): 155-6, Siteman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Lederman H, Bartoov B, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
Another study conducted by the College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China reported 35 cases of infertility caused by sperm abnormalities treated with acupuncture. Activity and quantity of sperm and semen improved, as did spermatogenic environment (indicated by significant decreases of mucosity and liquefaction time.) Equally important, sex hormones were normalized as follows: 33.5% improvement in FSH levels, 35.3% in LH levels, 57.1% in estrogen levels, 65.1% in testosterone levels.
Effects of guizhi fuling-wan on male infertility with varicocele.
Thirty-seven infertile patients with varicocele were treated with Guizhi-Fuling-Wan (7.5 g/day) for at least 3 months. Before and after the administration, semen qualities such as sperm concentration and motility were examined, and the varicocele was graded. A varicocele disappearance rate of 80% was obtained with 40 out of 50 varicoceles, and the improvement of sperm concentration and motility were found in 71.4% and 62.1% of patients, respectively. From these results, GuiZhi-Fuling-Wan is considered to be effective for circulation disorders in varicocele as well as semen quality.
Source: Am J Chin Med, 24(3-4): 327-31 1996 (ISSN:0192-415X), Ishikawa H et al, Department of Urology, I chikawa General Hospital, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
Note: In China, herbs are the recommended first course of action for varicoceles before surgery. Surgeries can possibly worsen counts because with surgery there is a risk of scarring and adhesion formation.
Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of Chinese Traditional Medicine, acupuncture and moxa treatment, on the sperm quality in patients with semen abnormalities.
METHODS: In a prospective, controlled and blind study, nineteen patients, aged 24-42 years and married for 3-11 years without children with semen abnormalities in concentration, morphology and/or progressive motility without apparent cause, were randomized into two groups, and submitted to acupuncture and moxa treatment at the therapeutic (Study Group) and the indifferent points (Control Group), respectively, for 10 weeks. Semen analyses were performed before and after the treament course. RESULTS: The patients of the Study Group presented a significant increase in the percentage of normal-form sperm compared to the Control Group (calculated U-16.0, critical U=17.0). CONCLUSION: The Chinese Traditional Medicine acupuncture and moxa techniques significantly increase the percentage of normal-form sperm in infertile patients with oligoastenoteratozoospermia without apparent cause.
Source: Asian J Androl, 2003 Dec; 5(4): 345-8, Gurfinkel E, Cedenho AP, Yamamura Y, Srougi M., Human Reproduction Division, Discipline of Urology, Sao Paulo Federal University, Paulista School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Acupuncture may be a useful, nontraumatic treament for males with very poor sperm density.
Classic therapies are usually uneffective in the treament of patients with very poor sperm density. The aim of this study was to determine the efect of acupunture on these males. Semen samples of 20 patients with a history of azoospermia were examined by light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), with which a microsearch for spermatozoa was caried out. These examinations were performed before and 1 month after acupuncture treatment and revealed that the study group originally contained three severely oligoteratoasthenozoospermic (OTA), two pseudoazoospermic and 15 azoospermic patients. The control group was comprised of 20 untreated males who underwent two semen examinations within a period of 2-4 months and had initial andrological profiles similar to those of the experimental group. No changes in any of the parameters examined were observed in the control group. There was a marked improvement in the sperm counts of severely OTA males following acupuncture treatment (average = 0.7 +/- 1.1 x 10(6) spermatozoa per ejaculate before treatment vs. 4.3 +/- 3.2 x 10(6) spermatozoa per ejaculate after treatment). A definite increase in sperm count was detected in the ejaculates of 10 (67%) of the 15 azoospermic patients. Seven of these males exhibited post-treatment spermatozoa that were detected even by LM. The sperm production of these seven males increased significantly, from 0 to an average 1.5 +/- 2.4 x 10(6) spermatozoa per ejaculate (Z = -2.4, P < or = 0.02). Two pregnancies were acheived by the IVF-ICSI procedure. It is concluded that acupuncture may be a useful, nontraumatic treatment for males with very poor sperm density, especially those with a history of genital tract inflammation.
Source: : "Does acupuncture treatment affect spem density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study" , Andrologia. 200 Jan;32:31-9, Siteman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Lederman H, Bartoov B, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel.
87 cases of male infertility by bushen shengjing pill in clinical observation and evaluation on its curative effect
Eighty-seven cases of male infertility with semen abnormality were treated with Bushen Shengjing Pill. Semen analysis after the treatment showed sperm parameters improved in 83 of the 87 cases, or an effectiveness rate of 95.40%. By the end of the study, 49 of the men's wives (56.32%) were pregnant. The result showed that this prescription had bidirectional regulatory function in follicle stimulating hormone, luteotropic hormone, testosterone, corticosterone, and could make the elevated of reduced hormone level to normal value.
Source: Chung Kuo et al 16(8): 463-6 1996 Aug (ISSN: 1003-5370), Institute of Acupuncture and Meridians, Anhui College of TCM. Hefei.
