Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for asthenozoospermia.
- Author:
Zi-Run JIN
1
;
Bo-Heng LIU
1
;
Wen-Hao TANG
2
;
Hui JIANG
2
;
Rong ZHANG
1
;
Ji-Sheng HAN
1
;
Guo-Gang XING
1
Author Information
1. Neuroscience Research Institute,The Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
2. Department of Urology, The Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
asthenozoospermia;
computer-assisted sperm analysis;
sperm motility;
transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation
- MeSH:
Acupuncture Points;
Asthenozoospermia;
therapy;
Electroacupuncture;
methods;
Humans;
Male;
Sperm Count;
methods;
Sperm Motility;
Spermatozoa;
Treatment Outcome
- From:
National Journal of Andrology
2017;23(1):73-77
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To study the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in the treatment of asthenozoospermia.
METHODS:We randomly divided 72 asthenozoospermia patients into a 2 Hz TEAS (n = 29), a 100 Hz TEAS (n = 20), and a blank control group (n = 23), those in the former two groups treated by 30 minutes of TEAS at 2 Hz and 100 Hz respectively, applied to the acupoints of bilateral Shenshu, left Zusanli, and Guanyuan, once a day for 60 days, while those in the blank control group left untreated. Using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), we examined sperm concentration and motility as well as the percentages of grade a and grade a+b sperm in different groups of the patients.
RESULTS:Compared with the baseline, 2 Hz TEAS significantly increased sperm motility (［12.76 ± 1.39］ vs ［18.89 ± 2.46］%, P<0.05) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm ( ［10.68 ± 1.22］ vs ［16.32 ± 2.10］%, P<0.05) in the asthenozoospermic patients, while 100 Hz TEAS improved not only sperm motility (［12.32 ± 2.21］ vs ［23.81 ± 3.42］%, P<0.01) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm (［10.45 ± 1.98］ vs ［20.25 ± 2.82 ］%, P<0.01), but also the percentage of grade a sperm (［6.44 ± 1.16］ vs ［13.31 ± 2.30］%, P<0.05). Moreover, in comparison with the blank control group, 2 Hz TEAS also remarkably increased sperm motility (［9.57 ± 1.60］ vs ［18.89 ± 2.46］%, P<0.05) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm (［7.81 ± 1.31］ vs ［16.32 ± 2.10］%, P<0.05) in the asthenozoosperma patients, while 100 Hz TEAS improved not only sperm motility (［9.57 ± 1.60］ vs ［23.81 ± 3.42］%, P<0.01) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm (［7.81 ± 1.31］ vs ［20.25 ± 2.82］%, P<0.01) but also the percentage of grade a sperm (［4.87 ± 1.01］ vs ［13.31 ± 2.30］%, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the rate of clinical effectiveness was significantly higher in the 100 Hz TEASthan in the blank control group either in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (100% vs 18.18%) orper-protocol (PP) analysis (90% vs 0%), and so was it than in the 2 Hz TEAS group based on the data of ITT (100% vs 33.33%).
CONCLUSIONS:Both 2 Hz and 100 Hz TEAS are effective for the treatment of asthenozoospermia by improving sperm motility and vitality.
