Acupuncture and Male Infertility
Some clinical trials suggest that acupuncture improves sperm motility (Dieterle 2009), increases sperm count (Siterman 2009, Siterman 2001), improves sperm quality (Pei 2005; Gurfinkel 2003) and has a beneficial effect on psychogenic erectile dysfunction (Engelhardt 2003).Preparing for Pregnancy
Preparation for pregnancy can begin several months prior to conception. If both partners adopt a preconceptual healthcare programme including fertility acupuncture, reflexology and nutrition for at least 3-4 months prior to conception, it is possible to have an impact on the health of both the egg and sperm and reproductive outcomes.
Acupuncture may help with:
Three Month Male Fertility Acupuncture Programme
Our three month male fertility acupuncture and sperm improvement programme is recommended because the continuous process called "spermatogenesis", by which stem cells develop into mature spermatozoa requires about 72-74 days.
Six Week Male Fertility Acupuncture Programme
Research shows that even an intensive six week male fertility and sperm improvement programme, consisting of two male fertility acupuncture appointments per week prior or during IVF or fertility treatment is beneficial.
Normal Parameters for Male Infertility
World Health Organisation (WHO, 2010) standards for assessing male infertility are:
How Acupuncture Can Enhance Male Fertility?
Acupuncture may help in the treatment of male infertility (Stener-Victorin 2010), by:- Lowering scrotal temperature (Siterman 2009)
- Enhancing local microcirculation, by increasing the diameter and blood flow velocity of peripheral arterioles (Komori 2009)
- Reducing inflammation, by promoting release of vascular and immunomodulatory factors (Zijlstra 2003)
- By improving sperm maturation in the epididymis, increasing testosterone levels, and reducing liquid peroxidation of sperm (Crimmel 2001)
How Acupuncture Can Enhance Fertility?
- Improves sperm parameters
- Improves pregnancy rates of IVF treatment
- Regulates menstrual cycles
- Regulate hormones by reducing stress
- Reduces miscarriages
- Lessens uterine contractions after embryo transfer
- Improves blood flow to testicles, ovaries and uterus
- Improves ovarian function; encourages production of follicles; enhances their quality
- Improves thickness of uterine wall lining
- Aids relaxation
- Lessens side effects of fertility medication
- Enhances immune system
The London Acupuncture Space has undergone specialist post-graduate training in Male Fertility Acupuncture with Zita West and at the Royal College of Physicians in London.
Acupuncture Research for Male Infertility:
"Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment for idiopathic male infertility." Fertility Sterility. 2005 Jul;84(1):141-7. Pei J, Strehler E, Noss U, Abt M, Piomboni P, Baccetti B, Sterzik K."Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproduction therapy." Dr. M. Zhang et al. J Huazhong University SCI Technology Medicine SCI 2002; 22(3):228-30.
"Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility to low sperm quality." Arch Andrology. 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2): 155-6, Siteman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Lederman H, Bartoov B, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel.
"Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities." 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.