TITLE:
Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Male Immune Infertility
AUTHORS:
Zhongyi Ma, Shujuan Li, Juan Wu, Yuping Sa
KEYWORDS:
Acupuncture, Immune Infertility, Male, Meta-Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Chinese Medicine,
Vol.14 No.1,
March
20,
2023
ABSTRACT: Objective: Exploring the therapeutic effects of acupuncture for
male immune infertility using Meta-analysis. Methods: The literature related to clinical randomized controlled
trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for male immune infertility published from the
establishment of the database (journal) to 2021 was searched for RR values or
OR values and 95% CI as effect indicators. RevMan 5.3 software was applied for
meta-analysis. Results: Acupuncture or combination of acupuncture and
herbal medicine (hereafter referred to as acupuncture and medicine) or
electro-acupuncture, the total effective rate was significantly better than the
control group, and the difference was statistically significant [RR = 1.29, 95%
CI (1.20, 1.38), p 0.00001]; In addition, the efficiency of the combined acupuncture and
medicine treatment was better than that of the herbal medicine group alone, and
the difference was statistically significant [RR = 1.05, 95%, CI (0.94, 1.16),
P = 0.42]; The sperm viability in the combined acupuncture and medicine
treatment group was significantly better than that in the herbal medicine
treatment group alone, and the differences were all statistically significant
[MD = 0.04, 95% CI (?0.20, 0.28), P0.74]; Sperm forward motion was significantly better
in the combination of acupuncture and medicine than in the herbal medicine
alone group, and the differences were all statistically significant [MD = 0.66,
95% CI (?0.04, 1.36), P = 0.06]; ACP indexes were significantly higher in the
combination of acupuncture and medicine than in the herbal medicine alone
group, with a statistically significant difference [MD = 20.47, 95% CI (?65.31,
106.25), P = 0.64]; The AsAb content in the seminal plasma of either needle
medicine or acupuncture was lower than in the homogeneous prednisone group, and
the difference was statistically significant [MD = ?7.00, 95% CI (?11.19, ?2.81),
P = 0.001]; The index of AsAb content in the serum of either needle medicine or
acupuncture was lower than that of prednisone group, and the difference was
statistically significant [MD = ?5.00, 95% CI (?9.53, ?0.47), P = 0.03]. Conclusion: Based on
current evidence, acupuncture is more effective than Western medicine
(prednisone) alone in the treatment of male immune infertility, and is more
effective when combined with Chinese medicine.