Abnormalities of Sperm
Acupuncture can improve sperm quality and fertilization rates in ICSI
22 patients with idiopathic male infertility who failed in ICSI, were treated with acupuncture twice weekly for 8 weeks, followed by ICSI treatment again. The sperm concentration, motility, morphology, fertilization rates and embryo quality were observed. Sperm motility after acupuncture improved significantly. The normal sperm ratio was increased after acupuncture. The fertilization rates (66.2%) were significantly higher and the embryo quality improved. The conclusion of the study was that acupuncture can improve sperm quality and fertilization rates in IVF.
J Huangzhong Iniv Sci Technol med Sci 2002;22(3):228-30
​
Acupuncture can increase sperm motility and the intactness of the azonema
A study was carried out in Israel on 16 patients with subfertility due to poor sperm motility. They were treated with acupuncture twice a week for 5 weeks and compared to a control group. The sperm motility and intactness of the azonema were greatly increased in the study group.
​
Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Zabludovsky N, Bartoov B, The effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm motility. Arch Androl 1997, Sep-Oct; 39 (2): 155-61
​
Acupuncture can significantly improve overall sperm quality
​
A study was carried out in Germany using acupuncture to treat 28 men suffering from oligospermia (low sperm count), asthenospermia (poor motility) or teratozoospermia (poor morphology). Each patient was given 10 treatments over a period of 3 weeks. The spermiograms and hormone levels were checked before and after acupuncture. Total count, concentration and motility were evaluated and, in all cases, the researchers observed a statistically significant improvement of sperm quality. The study concludes that acupuncture therapy at the time of ovulation might increase the chances of pregnancy.
​
Ischl F, Riegler R, Bieglmayer C, Nasr F, Neumark J (Modification of semen quality by acupuncture in subfertile males) Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1984 Aug; 44 (8): 510-2
Acupuncture has been found to be useful in treating males with very low sperm count, especially those with a history of genital tract infection
Research was carried out in Tel Aviv to observe the effects of acupuncture on males with very low sperm count. 17 of the males were azoospermic, and 3 had severe oligotertoasthenozoospermia (OTA). After a course of acupuncture treatment, the OTA only had a slight increase in sperm count, whilst 67% of the azoospermic patients showed a definite increase in sperm count, seven of them significantly. Males with genital tract inflammation had the most marked improvement in sperm density. The study concludes that acupuncture might be a useful treatment for males with a very low sperm count, especially those with a history of genital tract infection.
​
Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Lederman H, Bartoov B. Does acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study. Andrologia 2000 Jan; 32 (1): 31-9.
Acupuncture can improve overall sperm quality, especially poor morphology
A Chinese study was carried out on 54 men with subfertility. They were given 1-3 months of acupuncture treatment and sperm analysis was carried out before and after treatment. 55.5% of patients impregnated their partners in that period of time, and 24% showed a significant improvement in their sperm quality. 20% of patients, previously diagnosed with azoospermia and immune disturbance did no improve. The best improvement was seen in patients with abnormal sperm.
​
Qian Z (Clinical observation of 54 cases of male infertility treated by acupuncture and moxibustion) Journal of Chinese Medicine, 1996 September
