title: [Short-course kidney-invigorating therapy improves near-term semen quality in asthenozoospermic men with kidney deficiency].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of short-course kidney-invigorating therapy on near-term semen quality in asthenozoospermic men with kidney deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the differential types in traditional Chinese medicine, 121 asthenozoospermia patients received at our clinic of andrology were divided into groups A (kidney-yin deficiency), B (kidney-yang deficiency) and C (spleen and kidney deficiency), and treated with Yougui Decoction plus Wuziyanzong Pills, Jinkuishenqi Pills plus Wuziyanzong Pills, and Shizi Decoction plus Liujunzi Decoction, respectively, all given once daily for 4 weeks. Sperm parameters of the patients were analyzed with the computer-assisted sperm analysis system before and after treatment and compared among the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline sperm concentrations in groups A, B and C ([70.4 +/- 38.6], [73.5 +/- 40.2] and [56.0 +/-34.4] x 10(6)/ml) showed no significant differences from those after medication ([74.4 +/- 32.6], [67.0 +/- 30.8] and [58.6 +/- 24.6] x 10(6)/ml) (P > 0.05). The percentages of grade a sperm in the three groups were (12.9 +/- 5.3)%, (13.7 +/- 7.7)% and (12.9 +/- 6.4)% respectively after treatment, significantly higher than (9.9 +/- 6.7)%, (9.3 +/- 5.4)% and (9.0 +/- 6.8)% before treatment (P < 0.05), and so were the percentages of grade a + b sperm ([37.4 +/- 10.2 ]%, [35.7 +/- 13.7]% and [35.9 +/- 12.3]% after treatment versus [29.6 +/- 13.2]%, [27.5 +/- 10.4]% and [28.3 +/- 12.1]% before treatment, P < 0.05). All the three groups showed significantly increased sperm motility after treatment ([53.8 +/- 10.5]%, [52.6 +/- 15.2]% and [51.1 +/- 13.1]%) as compared with the baseline levels ([44.3 +/- 14.0]%, [43.5 +/- 15.0]% and [42.4 +/- 14.9]%) (P < 0.05). The cure rate and total effectiveness rate were significantly higher in group B than in A (P < 0.05), but had no significant differences between either A and C or B and C (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-course kidney-invigorating therapy can significantly improve near-term semen quality in asthenozoospermic men with kidney asthenia, especially in those with kidney-yang deficiency, and it has no obvious adverse effects.
authors: Department of Urology, Wuyi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangmen, Guangdong 529000, China. lzjv002@126.com
authors: Zhi-Jian
authors: ZJ
authors: Liao
authors: Jian-Fu
authors: JF
authors: Zhou
authors: Zhen-Chao
authors: ZC
authors: Yin
authors: Jin-Jun
authors: JJ
authors: Zhang
authors: Song-Tao
authors: ST
authors: Xiang
authors: Shu-Sheng
authors: SS
authors: Wang
authors: Zhi-Qiang
authors: ZQ
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D055101:Semen Analysis; D016711:Yang Deficiency; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C521739:liujunzi