Efficacy of electroacupuncture for the treatment of asthenozoospermia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical intervention on sperm quality: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Infertility affects about 10% of the world's population and has been recognized by the WHO as a global public health problem. The aim of this network meta-analysis was to investigate the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions on sperm quality. All randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, and Cochrane Library databases evaluating the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions on semen parameters using network meta-analyses. Results of the ω-3 fatty acid, lycopene, acupuncture, and vitamin suggested evident advantages in improving sperm concentration (MD, 9.93 (95% CI, 7.21 to 12.65)), (MD, 8.79 (95% CI, 2.67 to 14.91)), (MD, 5.40 (95% CI, 2.32 to 8.49)) and (MD, 3.82 (95% CI, 0.70 to 6.94) respectively). Acupuncture has a significant advantage over placebo in improving sperm total motility (MD, 17.81 (95% CI, 10.32 to 25.29)), and the effect of lycopene was obviously greater than that of placebo (MD, 19.91 (95% CI, 2.99 to 36.83)). Lycopene, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), acupuncture, ω-3 fatty acid, and vitamin suggested significant advantages in improving sperm forward motility (MD, 8.64 (95% CI, 1.15 to 16.13), MD, 5.28 (95% CI, 2.70 to 7.86), MD, 3.95 (95% CI, 3.23 to 4.67), MD, 3.50 (95% CI, 2.21 to 4.79)) and (MD, 2.38 (95% CI, 0.96 to 3.80) respectively). This review establishes that non-pharmaceutical interventions, particularly acupuncture, exercise, lycopene, ω-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, zinc, vitamins, selenium, carnitine, or foods rich in these supplements, profitably improve sperm quality that may be used to treat male infertility.

Treatment progress of cryptozoospermia with Western Medicine and traditional Chinese medicine: A literature review

Background and Aims

Cryptozoospermia is an extreme oligozoospermia with an unsatisfactory treatment effect, with an incidence rate of approximately 8.73% in male infertility, whose effective solution has become the call of the times. Western Medicine has achieved certain effects through drugs, surgery, and assisted reproductive therapy, but this is still not ideal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made many achievements in other disciplines; however, there is still a lack of evidence-based medical evidence to improve sperm production.

Methods

The relevant literatures from the China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) and PubMed in the past 10 years were collected in this article, of which the mechanisms, advantages, or current controversies of various treatment methods of Western Medicine and TCM were analyzed, to find new treatment methods and research directions.

Results

With the development of modern science and technology, medical treatments for cryptozoospermia have become increasingly abundant; however, there is still no universally recognized unified and effective guiding plan. Although TCM has not been fully verified by evidence-based medicine, most TCM combined with Western Medicine can achieve unexpected results.

Conclusion

The combination of TCM and Western Medicine may become a bane for cryptozoospermia and bring good news to infertile men worldwide.

Effectiveness of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

According to the World Health Organization, the global incidence of infertility is about 15%, and more than 50% of infertility cases are caused by male infertility. Asthenozoospermia is caused by male fertility decline and male infertility. Due to work pressure, environmental pollution, sexual diseases, and other factors, the number of patients with asthenozoospermia has increased in recent years. It has been confirmed that acupuncture has a certain effect on patients with asthenozoospermia. Acupuncture and moxibustion can be an adjuvant treatment plan for the treatment of asthenozoospermia in addition to drug treatment.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia will be searched in the relevant database, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database). The studies of electronic searches will be exported to EndNote V.9.1 software. We will run meta-analyses using the Review Manager (RevMan) V.5.3 software. Any disagreements will be solved in consultation with a third reviewer.

RESULTS

Our study aims to explore the efficacy of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia and to provide up-to-date evidence for clinical of asthenozoospermia.

CONCLUSION

This study will perform a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia, making up for the lack of relevant evidence of the clinical use of acupuncture.

INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY 202140032.