Male infertility caused by low sperm quality is becoming increasingly common. Both partners play an essential role in conception, and poor sperm quality can significantly impact fertility outcomes.
Common Causes of Low Sperm Quality
Low sperm quality (asthenozoospermia) can stem from various factors, including:
Long-term smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Reproductive system infections
Varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum)
Exposure to harmful chemicals
If varicocele impairs testicular blood circulation and affects sperm quality, surgical intervention may be necessary. Semen analysis typically reveals issues such as low sperm count, reduced motility, abnormal morphology, or hormonal imbalances.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective on Male Infertility
In TCM, male infertility is often linked to kidney function. The kidneys govern reproduction and store essence (jing), which is vital for reproductive health and fertility.
Effects of Acupuncture on Male Fertility
Acupuncture plays a crucial role in treating male infertility by:
Regulating organ function and improving blood circulation.
Stimulating acupoints along kidney meridians to enhance kidney function and stabilize sperm production.
Balancing the endocrine system by influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, promoting testosterone secretion to support sperm production and maturation.
Increasing testicular blood flow, reducing local temperature, and creating an optimal environment for sperm survival.
Enhancing sperm quality, quantity, and motility while reducing the proportion of abnormal sperm.
Role of Chinese Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine offers unique benefits in treating male infertility by addressing underlying imbalances, such as:
Kidney deficiency
Liver and kidney depletion
Qi stagnation and blood stasis
Damp-heat accumulation
Herbal treatment is tailored to each patient and typically involves:
Nourishing the kidneys and invigorating blood circulation.
Prescribing customized decoctions with 10-20 herbal ingredients to improve sperm quality and quantity.
Enhancing overall male reproductive function and correcting systemic imbalances.
Clinical Case Studies
Case 1: A 36-Year-Old Man with Low Sperm Quality and Stroke Residuals
This patient had a low sperm count, poor motility, and lingering physical impairments from a stroke. After an initial IVF failure, he underwent nearly two months of acupuncture treatment. His sperm quality improved significantly, leading to a successful IVF procedure and pregnancy.
Case 2: A 30-Year-Old Man with Mumps-Induced Testicular Damage
Diagnosed with poor sperm quality likely caused by childhood mumps, the patient received acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments. After four months, his sperm quality improved substantially, resulting in a successful IVF cycle and the birth of a healthy baby girl.
Case 3: A 35-Year-Old Man with Chemotherapy-Induced Sperm Damage
Following chemotherapy, this patient experienced a sharp decline in sperm quality. He had already undergone one unsuccessful IVF attempt and had tried various treatments for over six months with no improvement.
After three weeks of acupuncture, his semen analysis showed noticeable improvement. Encouraged by these results, he continued treatment with acupuncture and herbal medicine for two months. This led to a significant enhancement in sperm quality. At the fertility clinic, his sperm fertilized his wife’s eggs, resulting in a 5AA-grade embryo. Had the patient continued treatment longer, further improvements in sperm quality could have increased the number of viable embryos.
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