Does acupuncture treatment aVect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study

contained three severely oligoteratoasthenoAzoospermia is one of the most intractable forms zoospermic (OTA), two pseudoazoospermic of male infertility. Very few therapeutic regimens and 15 azoospermic patients. The control group have provided effective treatment for azoospermic was comprised of 20 untreated males who or severely oligozoospermic patients (Comhaire underwent two semen examinations within a et al., 1995; Sabanegh & Thomas, 1995; Mantovani period of 2–4 months and had initial andrological et al., 1996; Coppola, 1997; Yong et al., 1997). profiles similar to those of the experimental group. In recent years, pregnancies have been achieved No changes in any of the parameters examined by patients suffering from azoospermia by recovery were observed in the control group. There was a of epididymal or testicular spermatozoa followed marked but not significant improvement in the by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Devroey et al., sperm counts of severely OTA males following 1995; Silber et al., 1995; Tournaye, 1997; Tournaye acupuncture treatment (average=0.7±1.1×106 et al., 1997, 1998). Although these methods are spermatozoa per ejaculate before treatment vs. very effective, they are also invasive, traumatic, 4.3±3.2×106 spermatozoa per ejaculate after technically difficult, require local or general anaestreatment). A definite increase in sperm count thesia and are genetically problematic (Hirsh et al., was detected in the ejaculates of 10 (67%) of the 1996; Lisek & Levine, 1997; Tournaye et al., 1997, 15 azoospermic patients. Seven of these males 1998; de-Wert, 1998). exhibited post-treatment spermatozoa that were In parallel to the accepted therapeutic methods, detected even by LM. The sperm production of some nonconventional empirical therapies, includthese seven males increased significantly, from 0 ing Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, to an average of 1.5±2.4×106 spermatozoa per have also been used in treatment of men with ejaculate (Z=−2.8, P≤0.01). Males with genital very poor sperm density (Xueying, 1984; Wei, tract inflammation exhibited the most remarkable 1988; Ota et al., 1990; Natsuyama et al., 1991). improvement in sperm density (on average from In a previous study, it was demonstrated that 0.3±0.6×106 spermatozoa per ejaculate to one cycle of acupuncture treatment (twice a week