Male Fertility

A group of infertile men who had pathological semen analyses, according to WHO criteria, were treated with acupuncture twice a week for five 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.

A group of infertile men with abnormal semen analysis were randomly divided into two groups; one group was given 10 acupuncture treatments over five 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.

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 fifteen 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.

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.

J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. 2002;22(3):228-30.

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

A prospective randomized placebo-controlled study of the effect of acupuncture on infertile patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia

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 five 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.