Acupuncture and Male Fertility
Acupuncture treats low sperm motility, low sperm count, and poor sperm morphology.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.
This 3 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.
6 Week Male Fertility and Sperm Improvement Acupuncture
Research shows that even an intensive 6 week male fertility and sperm improvement programme, consisting of 2 male fertility acupuncture appointments per week prior or during IVF or fertility acupuncture treatment is beneficial.
Normal Parameters for Male Infertility
Current World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for assessing male infertility are:
Volume: more than 1 millilitre (ml)
Count: more than 20 million sperm per ml
Motility: more than 50% moving vigorously and purposefully
Morphology: more than 14% normal forms (ie. no deformities of the head, midpiece or tail).
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." Fertilty 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.