OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of herb-separated moxibustion on segmental conception vessel combined with low-frequency transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for asthenospermia and oligospermia. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with asthenospermia and oligospermia were randomly divided into a combination group, a TEAS group and a medication group, 35 cases in each one. In the medication group, vitamin E capsules, coenzyme Q10 capsules， RESULTS: Compared before treatment, except for the sperm morphology 2 months into treatment in the medication group, the semen routine indexes 2, 3 months into treatment were improved in the 3 groups ( CONCLUSION Herb-separated moxibustion on segmental conception vessel combined with low-frequency TEAS can improve semen routine, reduce sperm oxidative stress damage for patients with asthenospermia and oligospermia, and the clinical efficacy is better than the medication and TEAS.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Oligospermia/therapy* ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

Idiopathic semen quality abnormalities include idiopathic oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, teratospermia, azoospermia and idiopathic abnormal semen liquefaction. The possible causes of idiopathic semen quality abnormality include age, non-inflammatory function changes of subsidiary gonadal organs, infection, genetic abnormalities, sperm mitochondrial changes, effects of environmental pollutants, and subtle hormonal changes. The diagnosis of idiopathic oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, teratospermia and azoospermia require detailed inquiry of the case history, physical examination, semen analysis, determination of reproductive hormones, genetic and immunological examinations, and so on, to exclude possible known causes. The treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, and teratospermia may involve the use of Western medicines, such as clomiphene citrate, tamoxifen, recombinant FSH, Andriol, compound zinc and selenium, L-carnitine, recombinant growth hormone and pentoxifylline, the application of traditional Chinese drugs, or the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Idiopathic azoospermia can be treated by assisted reproductive technology based on the medication of spermatogenesis-promoting drugs, and idiopathic abnormal semen liquefaction can be managed with traditional Chinese drugs, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, or in vitro semen processing technology. With the development of diagnostic technology, it is expected that more specific therapeutic methods will be established for idiopathic semen quality abnormalities and their incidence will be reduced.
Asthenozoospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Azoospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Semen Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of the Chinese medicinal preparation Shengling Capsule on patients with oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSA total of 270 male patients with infertility induced by oligoasthenospermia were equally divided into a treatment and a control group, the former medicated with Shengling Capsule at the dose of 1.6 g tid, and the latter given Vit E at 50 mg tid, both for a course of 12 weeks. Then we analyzed the changes in the patients'seminal parameters and the pregnancy of their wives.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks of medication, both the seminal parameters of the patients and pregnancy of their wives were remarkably improved, with extremely significant differences from pre-treatment and the control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONShengjing Capsule can improve sperm motility and vitality as well as sperm count. With few adverse effects, it can be used as a safe and effective therapeutic for male infertility induced by oligoasthenospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

Sperm cryopreservation has been widely used in assisted reproduction, but conventional techniques are not suitable for the cryopreservation of small numbers of sperm. The application of the single sperm cryopreservation technique has significantly improved the clinical treatment of cryptozoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia. Ever since Cohen et al first developed the method of single sperm cryopreservation in 1997, constant efforts have been made to develop the carriers for this technique. In this review, we mainly discuss the existing methods and clinical outcomes of single sperm cryopreservation.
Azoospermia ; therapy ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Reproduction ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; Spermatozoa

In 26 patients with severe factor infertility (total spermatozoa per ejaculate 0.8-6.3 million) in vitro fertilisation was performed using a capillary tube culture system. Spermatozoa were concentrated and incubated with oocytes in a very small volume (10-20 microliters) within capillary tubes. In seven out of 26 patients (27%) at least one oocyte could be successfully fertilised (overall fertilisation rate 11.6%, 22/190 oocytes) and in two patients a pregnancy with the birth of a healthy child could be observed. If sperm progression was only of grade 2 or less no fertilisation could be observed in 10 patients with a total of 75 oocytes. The described capillary technique for in vitro fertilisation using very small volumes for sperm-oocyte culture may be useful in cases of severe oligozoospermia or before considering extreme therapies such as donor insemination of sperm microinjection.
Fertilization in Vitro ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Oligospermia ; complications

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with sperm collected by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) technique is nowadays the main treatment for obstructive azoospermia(OAS). To cryopreserve the epididymal sperm obstained by PESA can avoid repeat retrievals. We transferred the embryos fertilized by ICSI with frozen/thawed epididymal sperm and achieved a delivery, which shows that epididymal sperm obstained by PESA can be successfully cryopreserved.
Adult ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Semen Preservation ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of grain-moxibustion combined with medicine therapy for asthenospermia and oligospermia. METHODS: A tatal of 60 patients were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases) according to 1︰1 ratio. In the control group, vitamin E capsules were taken orally one capsule each time, twice a day, and pills 6 g each time, three times a day for a total of 3 months. In the observation group, grain-moxibustion was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4)，Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) based on the control group, once a week for 3 months, with a total of 12 times. The sperm concentration and sperm progressive motility were measured by automatic sperm quality analysis system in the two groups, and the clinical effects were compared. Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in the observation group was measured by sperm nucleus chromosome structure assay (SCSA). RESULTS: ①The sperm concentrations and sperm progressive motilities after 1-month, 2-month and 3-month of treatment were increased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (<0.01), and they were increased with time. In the two groups, 2-month and 1-month of treatment, 3-month and 2-month of treatment were compared, the sperm concentrations and sperm progressive motilities were significantly increased (<0.01). The sperm concentrations after 1-month, 2-month and 3-month of treatment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (<0.01), the sperm progressive motility after 3-month of treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). ②After 3-month of treatment，the DFI in the observation group was significantly reduced compared with that before treatment (<0.01). ③The total effective rate in the observation group after 3-month of treatment was 86.7% (26/30), which was superior to 63.3% (19/30) in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Grain-moxibustion combined with medicine therapy can improve sperm concentration and sperm progressive motility, enhance the integrity of sperm DNA.
Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of semen cryopreservation in intrauterine insemination cycles for the treatment of oligospermia and asthenospermia in infertile males.

METHODSA total of 152 cycles of intrauterine insemination were performed for 103 couples with constitutional infertility, which were divided into Groups 1 (normal semen, n=53), 2 (oligospermia and asthenospermia, n=52) and 3 (fresh combined with cryopreserved semen, n=47). Semen parameters and forward motile sperm count after processing were recorded by Makler chamber, and all were followed up for the outcome of clinical pregnancy.

RESULTSCompared with Group 2, Group 3 showed obviously lower semen volume, sperm motility and grade a sperm count before semen processing, with extremely significant differences (P < 0.01), but a higher rate of grade a sperm after semen processing, though with no significant differences (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the pregnancy rate between Groups 2 and 3 (9.6% versus 14.9%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSemen cryopreservation can improve the forward motile sperm count and pregnancy rate in oligospermia and asthenospermia patients after intrauterine insemination. Semen cryopreservation combined with intrauterine insemination seems an ideal treatment for oligospermia and asthenospermia in infertile men.

Asthenozoospermia ; therapy ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous ; methods ; Male ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate

Industrialization and environmental pollution are bringing more problems to human reproduction and increasing the prevalence of male infertility. Western medicine has shown its limitations in the management of male infertility, especially that of oligoasthenospermia. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), however, has long and rich experiences in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia, with a large variety of medicinal prescriptions based on the TCM theories, among which Qilin Pills shows a particularly significant therapeutic effect on oligoasthenospermia, especially when combined with Western medicine. At present, published studies on Qilin Pills are mainly in the stage of clinical observation, while basic researches and studies on its relevant mechanisms are rarely seen.
Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of modified Tianxiong Powder (MTP) in treating oligospermia and asthenospermia.

METHODSEighty patients were equally randomized into two groups, the treated group administered with MTP, and the controlled group administered with Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP), all for 3 months. The comprehensive efficacy was observed; and parameters of patients' semen and figure of sperm were analyzed before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe observation was completed in 70 patients. The total effective rate and markedly effective rate were 91.43% and 65.71%, respectively in the treated group, 85.71% and 54.29%, respectively in the control group, the pregnancy rate in their wives was 8.57% and 5.71%, respectively. Comparisons showed no statistical significance between groups (P > 0.05). Significant elevated perm count in semen and more active sperms with significantly better spermic figure, were found in both groups. However, the improvements in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMTP shows good efficacy and high safety in treating oligospermia and asthenospermia, and it could improve the spermic count, motility and figure, and reduce the head deformity rate.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult