NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Findings from a new study suggest that acupuncture may have a role as a treatment for idiopathic male infertility.

In the study, reported in the July issue of Fertility and Sterility, an improvement in sperm quality, especially the ultrastructural integrity, was observed following acupuncture.

Dr. Jian Pei, from Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, Germany, and colleagues assessed the benefits of acupuncture therapy in 28 men with idiopathic oligospermia, asthenospermia, or teratozoospermia. The control group consisted of 12 similar untreated men. A variety of standard acupuncture points throughout the body were used.

Acupuncture was associated with a significant increase in the percentage and number of sperm without ultrastructural defects, the investigators note. Moreover, a significant improvement in a number of structural parameters, such as the acrosome position and nuclear shape, was observed.

Still, specific sperm pathologies, such as apoptosis, immaturity, and necrosis, did not resolve or change with acupuncture, the report indicates.

The results suggest that acupuncture could be a useful treatment for idiopathic infertility in men, but further research is required to confirm the findings and to shed light on the mechanisms involved, the authors conclude.

Fertil Steril 2005;84:141-147

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