Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine | Male Infertility

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine for Male Infertility

Male factor infertility accounts for 40% of all fertility problems. The biggest mistake we see clinically is for couples putting all the emphasis on treating the female and neglecting to address the male side, and by simply also treating the male can reduce the total amount of time it takes for a couple to conceive. Treatment can involve Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and/or nutritional supplements.

 

For those trying to conceive naturally one study suggested that men who have the following rates are more likely to conceive naturally;

  • Motility – Greater than 63%
  • Normal forms – Greater than 12% (1)

 

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine for enhancing Male fertility and treatment of Male factor infertility

 

Clinical research has shown that Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine has the following effects on the male;

 

  • The group that received acupuncture had a 50% improvement in sperm motility.
  • The number and percentage of healthy sperm also increased dramatically in the Acupuncture group, increasing more than four-fold after 10 sessions of acupuncture.
  • In addition, significant changes in sperm structure and quality were seen in the Acupuncture group, with an increase from 22.5% normal shapes to 38.5% normal shapes.

 

Since new sperm generally take 70 to 90 days to form, treatment for male factors is usually recommended for a minimum of three months.

Supplements that you should also be having

 

  • Male fertility focused multi-vitamin; Containing at least 50mg of zinc
  • Take CoQ10 (Ubiquinol) 100 – 400mg daily
  • Vitamin E (unless contained in the male fertility focused multivitamin)
  • Vitamin C (unless contained in the male fertility focused multivitamin)
  • L-Carnitine

Foods that you should be eating

 

  • Foods that are high in zinc include pumpkin seeds, liver, walnuts, oysters, yogurt, turkey, peas, and shrimp. 10 -12 oysters a week can give you a fantastic zinc boost, so next date night is seafood.
  • Foods that are high in selenium include Brazil nuts, liver, snapper, cod, halibut, tuna, salmon, sardines, shrimp, and turkey.
  • Foods that are high in vitamin C, which is abundant in plants and fruits including red peppers, broccoli, cranberries, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and citrus fruit (2)
  • Eat plenty of fish and omega 3
  • Reduce coffee, alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drug use

Other things to consider

 

  • Acupuncture and herbal medicine can be fantastic for male health and fertility
  • Check with your doctor that any prescribed medications are not affecting your sperm health
  • Avoid situations that you overheat such as sauna, steam rooms and hot tubs. Even overheating at night can be an issue
  • Consider a sperm friendly lubricant such as preseed; http://www.preseed.com/
  • Exercise when possible to reduce stress or other stress busting activities. Men who spent more than an hour and a half each week engaging in physical activity outdoors had a 42% higher sperm concentration than those who spent no time outdoors (3)
  • Sex with a greater connection yields better sperm, so quality not quantity is the key where possible!

Visit Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine | Balanced Life Health Care | Ferntree Gully for more information or to Book Your Appointment Online

References

  1. Matthew Tomlinson, Sheena Lewis and David Morroll (2013); Sperm quality and its relationship to natural and assisted conception: British Fertility Society Guidelines for practice; Human Fertility, 2013; Early Online: 1–19
  2. Hethir Rodriguez (2016); Increasing Low Sperm Count and Improving Male Fertility; http://natural-fertility-info.com/mens-fertility
  3. Dennis Thompson (2013); Exercise Might Boost Men’s Sperm Counts, Study Finds; http://www.everydayhealth.com/mens-health/1015/exercise-might-boost-mens-sperm-counts-study-finds.aspx