Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproductive technology.

Conclusion: men that had failed ICSI/IVF went through acupuncture 2x/week for 8 weeks, then did ICSI/IVF again.  Motility, fertilization rate, and embryo quality improved.

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 8 weeks, followed by ICSI treatment again. The sperm concentration, motility, morphology, fertilization 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 treatment (40.2%, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in sperm concentration and general sperm motility between before and after acupuncture. The embryo quality after acupuncture was improved, but the difference between them was not significant (P > 0.05). Acupuncture can improve sperm quality and fertilization rates in assisted reproductive technology.

Zhang M - J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci - 01-JAN-2002; 22(3): 228-30

From NIH/NLM MEDLINE

NLM Citation ID:
12658811 (PubMed)

Full Source Title:
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Publication Type:
Journal Article

Language:
English

Author Affiliation:
Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030.

Authors:
Zhang M; Huang G; Lu F; Paulus WE; Sterzik K