[Acupuncture treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia]

Studies show that acupuncture can significantly elevate the level of serum testosterone (T), reduce the concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2), initiate spermatogenesis, enhance testicular blood flow, maintain a relative low temperature in the testis, increase the concentration, motility and antioxidative injury capability of spermatozoa by raising the levels of seminal α-glucosidase, fructose and super oxide dismutase, and eventually improve semen quality and the rate of conception in the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia. Currently, the quality of the clinical studies of acupuncture treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia is relatively poor, the existing evidence remains at a low level, its clinical application is limited, and its therapeutic effect has to be further verified. The present paper summarizes the literature from domestic and international databases about acupuncture treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia, and offers an overview of the effects of acupuncture on the reproductive endocrine system, testicular blood flow, semen quality, and rate of conception in the treatment of the patient.