title: Successful Treatment of Oligoasthenozoospermia Using Traditional Korean Medicine Resulting in Spontaneous Pregnancy: Two Case Reports.
abstract: Male factor subfertility accounts for at least half of all cases of subfertility. In 30-45% of cases, the cause of abnormal semen parameters is idiopathic; however, a standardized approach for the treatment of idiopathic male infertility remains elusive. In Korea, acupuncture and/or herbal remedies have been widely used to treat male infertility. Herein, we report two patients with oligoasthenozoospermia treated using traditional Korean medicine (TKM), who subsequently successfully impregnated their spouses. The sperm count and motility of patient 1 were 10 million/ml and 15%. The sperm count and motility of patient 2 were 8 million/ml and 3%. Both patients were treated using TKM therapy including acupuncture and/or herbal medicine for two months (patient 1) and five months (patient 2). After TKM therapy, both patients reported that their spouses were pregnant and subsequently gave birth to healthy, full-term infants. This study represents TKM therapy including acupuncture and/or herbal remedies might be an option for infertile men (oligoasthenozoospermia). Further large-scale randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of TKM therapy for male infertility are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Gynecology, Conmaul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: studd@naver.com.
authors.forename: Junyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Gynecology, Conmaul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Ja
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility
keywords: Oligozoospermia; acupuncture; asthenozoospermia; herbal medicine; traditional Korean medicine