AIMTo test the hypothesis that levels of sperm disomy fell significantly in six men treated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

METHODSFluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was done on the sperm heads of six men before and during treatment by TCM.

RESULTSThere was a significant reduction in sperm disomy in all six men. This coincided with TCM treatment.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first study reporting a significant reduction in sperm disomy in men over a given time course. The fact that this coincided with TCM treatment is intriguing but no conclusions can be drawn from this until placebo-controlled clinical trials are implemented.

Adult ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; physiology ; Treatment Outcome