TCM Male Infertility

A study published by the World Health Organisation (1992) found that in at least 50% of infertile couples, a significant male factor was contributing to the problem.

Few advances have been made in understanding the aetiology or prevention of male infertility. However, in the UK with the advent of assisted reproduction techniques, in particular the use of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), which involves the microinjection of a single sperm into an egg, men with severe low sperm count and many with zero sperm can go on to father their own children. Although ICSI is the best option so far, it doesn’t address the underlying condition. Furthermore, the treatment is very invasive and can be emotionally demanding. The success rate for this procedure is also very low across all age groups.

The advantages of Chinese herbs

Chinese herbs have been shown to significantly improve the production of healthy sperm by balancing and strengthening the functions of the male reproductive organs. In many cases, treatment with TCM has increased the number of sperm produced and improved sperm quality. As a result, patients undergoing assisted conception can opt for less invasive and less expensive procedures than might otherwise be possible such as IUI or IVF.

Impressive success rates

Our male patient figures show that among the partners (aged between 29 and 68) of the 60 men who followed the minimum three-month treatment programme, 63% became pregnant – again more than half of them naturally – and 86% of pregnancies resulted in a live birth.

Common cause of male infertility

Before birth:

A person is born with a certain constitution which is inherited from his/her parents and which contributes to the health of the embryo and its development during the pregnancy in the mother’s uterus. Although the individual’s constitution, by and large can’t be changed, it can be improved to a certain extent by having a healthy, balanced lifestyle and by doing breathing exercises. Consequently, we’ve seen some men who have fathered a child but by the age of 40 or 50 had a sperm reduction, whereas others were still able to father children at the age of 70.

After birth:

a. Emotions

Emotions are a natural part of human existence and no-one is able to escape being occasionally sad, angry or worried. If these feelings are particularly intense and prolonged over a long period, emotions can cause a disharmony in the body’s functions and affect the body’s normal blood flow. However the causes can also be reversed.

b. Over-exertion

Mental and physical (overwork, over-exercise and over-sexual activity)
Overworking, either mentally or physically, can lead to exhaustion of Qi, weakening the organs functions and directly affecting the spleen Qi and kidney – Yi deficiency.

c. Poor diet

Too much alcohol, spicy food, coffee, cold food and drinks, along with smoking, weaken the digestive organs, particularly the Spleen – Yang, causing Spleen transformation and transportation obstruction and leading to malnutrition.

d. External causes - climatic factors

In normal circumstances, the weather has no pathological effect on the human body as it can adequately adjust and protect itself against exterior pathogenic factors. Sometimes however, the weather can become a cause of disease when the equilibrium between the body and the environment breaks down, either because the weather is unseasonably excessive or because the body is weak or weaker in relation to the climatic changes.

Excessive climatic change can completely change the body’s nature, leading to disharmony and causing the malfunction of the reproductive organs.

e. Other causes

(1) Trauma - Testicular operations for maldescent, varicocele, vasectomy and genital tract infections cause impaired testicular function and lead to sperm production problems.

(2) Chemical - Over the last 10 years, many articles have been written on how water, plastic containers and bags all containing oestrogen can adversely affect male fertility.

(3) The conventional diagnosis and investigation

There are various methods that we use to identify the likely treatable cases with TCM.

Semen analysis:

For the majority of couples, an initial semen analysis can help identify the cause of infertility.

Endocrine tests:

Serum FSH (for azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia in differentiation between an obstructive azoospermia and failure of spermatogenesis)
Serum testosterone (hypothalamic)
Prolactin (elevated – libido or impotence and stress)

Testicular biopsy:

To differentiate between obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia and to determine spermatogenesis. This has now been replaced by serum FSH measurements.

Identifying the cause of your fertility

Deficient kidney-essence

Commonly seen in patients with a low sperm count, a low volume of seminal fluid, impotence or low libido, a weak lower back, tinnitus, dizziness, poor memory and a feeling of heat. A red or peeled tongue and floating pulse.

Deficient kidney Qi

Commonly seen in patients with azoospermia or a low sperm count and low sperm motility, watery seminal fluids, age, depression, impotence or low libido, a weak back, frequent and night urination and cold limbs. A pale tongue with a white coating and a deep, slow pulse.

Stagnation of blood

Commonly seen in patients with varicocele or antisperm antibodies. Symptoms are normally a painful groin, abdominal pain and a dark complexion. A purple tongue and a wiry pulse.

Dampness

Commonly seen in patients with a severe low sperm count, low sperm motility, high abnormal forms and seminal fluid infections. The symptoms mainly present as being overweight and tired. A greasy coating on the tongue and a slippery pulse.