Acupuncture, Human Infertility and Clinical Trials

As I undertook research focused on determining what kinds of clinical trials examining the effectiveness of various acupuncture treatments with respect to human infertility, I was immediately struck by the array of interesting and relevant studies that had been undertaken, particularly those that considered the feasibility of acupuncture as an alternative or adjunct to other therapeutic interventions. The problem of human infertility, male or female, seems to be particularly amenable to amelioration via acupuncture and what are called "alternative" or non-Western medical treatments. From the perspective of Oriental (i.e., no-Western) medical theory and practice, I learned that human infertility is traced to malfunctions of, for example, the kidney or other sources of life forces.

The clinical trials and studies reviewed as part of the research effect were structured, for the most part, to conform to ethical standards regarding informed consent, avoidance of harm, and use of proper counseling and advisory protocols. Many studies compared and contrasted infertility treatment regimes that contained control groups, which permitted the researchers to specifically consider the relative merits of acupuncture. By comparing various interventions targeting male or female infertility, these studies assume a relevance that would be absent had they not examined alternative approaches to the problem. It found it interes

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d among males who are treated for infertility due to an endocrine imbalance. Surgical interventions can also be accompanied by side effects, including both physical and psychological defects. Recent Controversies in Research Publications Acupuncture has been used successfully to facilitate ovarian hyperstimulation and to reduce obstructions in the fallopian tubes (Xu-Sheng, Xiao-Feng, & Lin, 1997). In males, acupuncture treatment has been employed to increase sperm density in males with very low sperm counts and to improve sperm motility and morphology as well as fertilization rates and embryo quality (Zhang, Huang, Lu, Paulus, & Sterzik, 2002). Four studies in the literature offering results of clinical research involving infertile males are of significance herein. Zheng (1997) reported on a study involving 279 cases of male sterility treated by a combination of acupuncture, pilose antler essence injection to acupoints, and oral administration of Chinese material medica. In this study, 142 cases or 47.8 percent of the cases of sterility were cured, 81 cases or 27.3 percent were markedly effective, 53 cases or 17.8 percent were effective, and 21 cases or 7.1 percent were ineffective. Zheng (1997) concluded t
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Trials Summary, Paulus Sterzik, Xiao-Feng Lin, Andersson Wikland, Chinese Medicine, Purpose/Rationale According, Morbidity Costs, Lederman Bartoov, Gerhard Postneek, Zabludovsky Bartoov, acupuncture treatment, chinese medicine, women treated, luo 2002, human infertility, sperm density, sterzik 2002, clinical trials, xuefen 1997, traditional chinese, acupuncture acupoint application, traditional chinese medicine, siterman eltes wolfson, results indicated acupuncture, effect acupuncture sperm,
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Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)