Acupuncture for Male Infertility
Research shows that better quality and higher quantity sperm counts are linked with lower miscarriage rates, improved rates of fertilisation & improved embryo development.
Male Fertility
Male fertility is rapidly declining causing approximately 40% of couples difficulty in conceiving. A normal seamen test result in 1992 contained 30% normal sperm; this is now as low as only 4% (which is classed as "normal" as it is normal for the population).
Acupuncture has been shown to improve your sperm count, vitality and normal sperm. It also increases libido.
Your sperm may be abnormal, may have reduced mobility or you may have low numbers of sperm; all of these factors reduce fertility as a couple.
When coming in for treatment we ask that you bring a copy of your seamen results with you to help us treat you more accurately. As part of the consultation your diet and lifestyle will also be reviewed.
Where do the needles go?
Acupuncture treatment for male infertility primarily focuses on your legs, lower back and abdomen. We will always discuss where the acupuncture points are before we start any treatment.
How many treatments will I need?
Male fertility relies on sperm which take around 90 days to be produced, as such it is recommended that you attend regular treatments for at least 3 months.
Research on Acupuncture & Male Fertility
1. Success of acupuncture treatment in patients with initially low sperm output is associated with a decrease in scrotal skin temperature. Siterman S et al, Asian J Androl 2009 Vol 11(2):200-8 Asian Journal of Andrology. This study discovered that the success of acupuncture in improving sperm quality was associated with a drop in temperature of the testes. 2. A prospective randomized placebo-controlled study of the effect of acupuncture in infertile patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia. Dieterle et al Fertil Steril 2009 Oct; 92 (4): 1340–3 Fertility and Sterility. This small clinical trial randomised 57 patients who had extremely low sperm counts, to acupuncture and placebo acupuncture groups. After receiving acupuncture twice weekly for 6 weeks motility of sperm (but not overall count) was found to increase significantly. The authors conclude that the results of the present study support the significance of acupuncture in male patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia. More evidence with larger trials needs to be accumulated before the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture in male infertility can be evaluated. 3. Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproductive technology. Zhang M et al J Huazhong Univ Sci Tech Med Sci.2002;22(3):228-30 Journal of Huazhong University (Abstract in Chinese). This trial looks at sperm behaviour in an IVF setting. It was a “before and after” study involving 82 infertile men with pathological semen abnormalities and who’s sperm achieved a poor fertilization rate in at least 2 IVF/ICSI cycles. They were given acupuncture twice a week over 8 weeks and the IVF/ICSI cycles were repeated. The fertilization rates after acupuncture (66.2%) were significantly higher than that before treatment (40.2%) (P
Grimsby Acupuncture is a member of the Acupuncture Fertility Network. The Acupuncture Fertility Network is a specialist intrest group of acupuncturists dedicated to helping individuals with fertility issues across the UK.