TREATMENT OF MALE INFERTILITY BY ACUPUNCTURE

Xu Wenbo

(Hospital of Zhejiang College of TCM, Hangzhou)

This article presents 11 adult patients with male infertility were treated by acupuncture. The infertility caused by oligospermia, immobility of spermatozoon or lengthening the liquefiable time of semen. After treatment 4 cases had succeeded in impregnating their sexual partners. And various degrees of improvement in sperm count, in motility of spermatozoon and shorting the liquifiable time of semen, conditions essential to a successful fertilization, were observed in the other four patients. Three cases with azoospermia failed to respond to this therapy,

According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, male infertility falls in the category of heirless. Guided by the following classic medical teaching: "The kidney is the foundation of the native constitution;" "The spleen provides the material basis of the acquired constitution;" The Ren meridian unites all the Yin of the body;" and "The Chong meridian is a sea of the twelve meridians." We selected the points-to-be-used mainly from these meridians: Zhaohai, Taixi of the kidney meridian of Foot Shaoyin; Sanyinjiao, Diji and Yinlingquan of the spleen meridian of Foot Taiyin; Zusanii of the stomach meridian of Foot Yangming; Qihai, Guanyuan of the Ren meridian; and Shenshu, Zhishi of the urinary bladder meridian. All of these points were divided into two groups and both of them were used alternatively everyday or every other day until the 21th day was reached, then after an interval of 7-10 days, second course was begun.

Manipulation: After painless inserting of the needle, lifted, thrust and turned it until needling reaction occurred. In some points, such as Guanyuan and Qihai, the effect would never be marked unless the sensation of point propagated to the front private part. Then retained the needle on place for 15-20 minutes. However, cases in whom needle-retaining had been practiced did not show any significant superior effect to those cases in whom retaining had not been done. Further study may be necessary before conclusion could be drawn.