Research and reviews
Acupuncture and sperm
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Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment for idiopathic male infertility. Pei J et al Fertil Steril. 2005 Jul;84(1):141-7 Fertility and Sterility |
| A group of infertile men who had pathological semen analyses according to WHO criteria, were treated with acupuncture twice a week for 5 weeks. A statistically significant increase after acupuncture in the percentage and number of sperm with no structural defects was demonstrated compared to the control group of patients who received no treatment. They concluded that male infertility patients could benefit from having acupuncture. A general improvement of sperm quality, specifically in the ultrastructural integrity of spermatozoa, was seen after acupuncture.
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Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality. Siterman S et al Arch Androl. 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2):155-61 Archives of Andrology |
| A group of infertile men with abnormal semen analysis were randomly divided into 2 groups; one group was given 10 acupuncture treatments over 5 weeks, and the other group, no treatment. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) were demonstrated in the acupuncture group compared to the control group, in particular improved motility and morphology.
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Does acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study. Siterman S et al Andrologia. 2000 Jan;32(1):31-9. Andrologia |
| This pilot study once again showed a positive effect of acupuncture on sperm count - but this time on men with such low sperm counts (or no sperm) that they would usually require a testicular biopsy to extract sperm for use in an IVF cycle. Seven of the 15 men with no sperm at all produced sperm detectable by the light microscope after a course of 10 acupuncture treatments (p < 0.01) ie enough sperm could be produced for ICSI to be performed without recourse to testicular biopsy. The control group with similar semen analysis had no treatment and showed no change after 3 months.
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Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities. Gurfinkel E et al Asian J Androl. 2003 Dec;5(4):345-8. Asian Journal of Andrology |
| In a prospective, controlled and blind study, a group of infertile men (married for 3 - 11 years without children) were randomized into two groups, the treatment group receiving 10 acupuncture treatments and the control group receiving sham acupuncture treatments. The patients in the acupuncture group demonstrated a significant increase in the percentage of normal forms compared to the control group.
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Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproductive technology. Zhang M et al J Huazhong Univ Sci Tech Med Sci.2002;22(3):228-30 Journal of Huazhong University ( Abstract in Chinese) |
| This trial looks at sperm behaviour in an IVF setting. It was a “before and after” study involving 82 infertile men with pathological semen abnormalities and who’s sperm achieved a poor fertilization rate in at least 2 IVF/ICSI cycles. They were given acupuncture twice a week over 8 weeks and the IVF/ICSI cycles were repeated. The fertilization rates after acupuncture (66.2%) were significantly higher than that before treatment (40.2%) (P < 0.01).
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A prospective randomized placebo-controlled study of the effect of acupuncture in infertile patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia Dieterle et al Fertil Steril 2009 Oct; 92 (4): 1340–3 Fertility and Sterility |
| This recent small clinical trial randomised 57 patients who had extremely low sperm counts, to acupuncture and placebo acupuncture groups. After receiving acupuncture twice weekly for 6 weeks motility of sperm (but not overall count) was found to increase significantly. The authors conclude that the results of the present study support the significance of acupuncture in male patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia. More evidence with larger trials needs to be accumulated before the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture in male infertility can be evaluated.
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Correlation of psychological changes and spermiogram improvements following acupuncture (article in German) Riegler R et al Urologe A. 1984 Nov;23(6):329-33 Der Urologe |
| This German group were the first to publish studies on the affect of acupuncture on sperm parameters. In this study they not only not measured changes in semen analysis after acupuncture but also certain psychological parameters.
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Point- and frequency-specific response of the testicular artery to abdominal electroacupuncture in humans Cakmak Y et al, Fertil Steril 2008;90:1732–8 Fertility and Sterility |
| Just as electrocaupuncture can increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus (see reports above) so it can to the testicles. These authors demonstrate that particular frequencies applied for just 5 minutes are effective in increasing blood flow in the testes, and suggest that such a stimulus may address the damaged microcirculation associated with varicoceles, and with aging. They note that decreased testicular arterial blood flow may result in impaired spermatogenesis from defective metabolism in the microcirculatory bed and suggest that further research is needed to discover if electroacupuncture can improve sperm manufacture in this instance.
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Effect of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy on sperm quality in infertility patients with sperm abnormality Chen A et al, Jnl Acup Tuina Sci 2011 Vol 9, Number 4, 219-222, Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science |
| A recent study in China sought to elucidate the mechanism whereby acupuncture improves sperm quality. The team found that levels of an important enzyme in the semen increased, as did the sperm motility after acupuncture.
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Significant reduction of sperm disomy in six men: effect of traditional Chinese medicine? Tempest HG et al, Asian J Androl. 2005 Vol 7(4):419-25. Asian Journal of Andrology. |
| This is a small study carried out in the UK, but one of the few (outside of China) to look at the effect of Chinese herbs on sperm quality. The incidence of chromosomal abnormality in all the patients who took the herbs was significantly reduced.
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Success of acupuncture treatment in patients with initially low sperm output is associated with a decrease in scrotal skin temperature. Siterman S et al, Asian J Androl 2009 Vol 11(2):200-8 Asian Journal of Andrology. |
| This rather unusual study discovered that the success of acupuncture in improving sperm quality was associated with a drop in temperature of the testes.
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Clinical study on the treatment of male immune infertility by Huzhangdanshenyin Lu TK et al, Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2006 Aug;12(8):750-5. National Journal of Andrology |
| Studies in Xiamen, China have found that herbal formulas have a better effect on anti-sperm antibodies than does prednisone, and provide an effective way to treat male factor immune infertility.
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Clinical observation on electroacupuncture and Chinese drug for treatment of oligospermia and asthenospermia of the male infertility patient Wang Z et al, Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2008 Nov;28(11):805-7. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu |
| This interesting study examined the effect of electro-acupuncture, chinese herbs or a combination of both on the sperm quality of infertile men. While sperm count and vitality improved in all groups, the effect was significantly better in the group who had acupuncture and took Chinese herbs. | |