Immune-mediated infertility is one of the common diseases of the reproductive system where the sperm appears autoimmune to reaction ( auto-resisting sperm) and induces infertility. In the past, this disease was known as idiopathic infertility. Research says that 25 percent of the immune-mediated infertility patients result from antisperm antibody. Abundant clinical experiences show that traditional Chinese medicine therapies have a good therapeutic effect for male immune infertiliity.
Clinical Data
In a study conducted by LunXin and Rong Li, Department of Acu-moxibustion in Guangzhou University, China, 100 cases of male infertility out-patients from the Andriatry Clinic Department of the hospital were selected as the subjects, and divided into medication group and electro acupuncture group (EA). The average age of patients and the average duration of disease in EA group were 30.7 ± 4.3 years and 4.2 ± 1.9 years respectively. In medication group, the average age of patients and the average duration of disease were 29.7 ± 3.1 years and 3.8 ± 1.7 years separately.
Treatment Method
EA group: On the basis of therapeutic principles of reinforcing both liver and kidney—blood circulation to remove obstruction in meridian-collaterals—specific acupuncture points were selected. The acupuncture needle handles were connected to electro-acupuncture apparatus for stimulating the points with dense-sparse waves for 30 minutes. The treatment was conducted once daily except on weekends for two months. After two courses of treatment, the results were analysed.
Medication group: The group was ordered to take prednisone 5 mg, three times a day continuously for eight weeks, and the therapeutic course was the same to that of EA group.
Results
EA group: Of 50 cases, 20 were cured, 23 markedly effective, two were effective and five remained ineffective. Total effect: 90 percent.Medication group: Of 50 cases, five were cured, 22 were markedly effective, five were effective, 18 remained ineffective. Total effect: 64 percent.Abundant researches display that acu-moxibustion works well in regulating and enhancing the immune functions. It also has been demonstrated that acupuncture treatment plays bi-directional regulatory effect on the immune functions of the body.
That means it strengthens the weakened immune function and suppresses immune hypofunction-induced harmful reactions of the organism to eliminate immune-mediated injury by way of peripheral sensory nerve, sympathetic and vagus nerves. Acupuncture can act on the nerve-endocrine-immune network to improve the reproductive environment, clear away exogenous sensitising factors and resist inflammatory and allergic reactions, favouring elimination of the predisposing causes of infertility.
According to the theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, clinical manifestations of hypofunction of the immune function or lack of immunosuppression factors-induced infertility are most attributed to weakness of the body-resistance; while inflammation, injury or obstruction-generated immune-mediated positive reactions belong to the excessiveness of pathogens.
Thus, this disease should be attributed to weakness of body-resistance and prevailing of pathogenic factors or mixed syndrome of deficiency and excess; and the position of disease is located at both the kidney and liver. The results of the study show the advantages and potential of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of male infertility. Thus acupuncture can not only rapidly improve the micro-environment of sperm life, it can also raise pregnancy rates. The author is Head of the Department of Acupuncture, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi. This treatment is now being made available in India.