The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile men. We searched for relevant trials registered up to May 2013 in 14 databases. We selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared acupuncture, with or without additional...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Asian Journal of Andrology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.ajandrology.com/article.asp?issn=1008-682X;year=2014;volume=16;issue=6;spage=884;epage=891;aulast=Jerng |
| _version_ | 1811309599805931520 |
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| author | Ui Min Jerng Jun-Young Jo Seunghoon Lee Jin-Moo Lee Ohmin Kwon |
| author_facet | Ui Min Jerng Jun-Young Jo Seunghoon Lee Jin-Moo Lee Ohmin Kwon |
| author_sort | Ui Min Jerng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile men. We searched for relevant trials registered up to May 2013 in 14 databases. We selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared acupuncture, with or without additional treatment, against placebo, sham, no treatment, or the same additional treatment. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection, data extraction, risk of bias and reporting quality appraisal. Risk of bias and reporting quality were appraised by the Cochrane risk of bias tool, the consolidated standards of reporting trials and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture. The outcomes were sperm motility, sperm concentration, pregnancy rate, and adverse events. Pregnancy was defined as a positive pregnancy test. Four RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Acupuncture increased the percentage of sperm with rapid progression (mean difference - 6.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.38-8.32, P< 0.00001) and sperm concentration (mean difference - 6.42, 95% CI: 4.91-7.92, P< 0.00001), but these two outcomes were substantially heterogeneous among the studies (I 2 = 72% and 58%, respectively). No differences in pregnancy rate were found between acupuncture and control groups (odds ratio 1.60, 95% CI: 0.70-3.69, P= 0.27, I 2 = 0%). No participants experienced adverse events. The current evidence showing that acupuncture might improve poor semen quality is insufficient because of the small number of studies, inadequacy of procedures and/or insufficient information for semen analysis, high levels of heterogeneity, high risk of bias, and poor quality of reporting. Further large, well-designed RCTs are required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:44:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a0c243740d04408b59365574277c8ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1008-682X 1745-7262 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:44:30Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Journal of Andrology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a0c243740d04408b59365574277c8ae2022-12-22T02:51:48ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAsian Journal of Andrology1008-682X1745-72622014-12-0116688489110.4103/1008-682X.129130The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysisUi Min JerngJun-Young JoSeunghoon LeeJin-Moo LeeOhmin KwonThe aim of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile men. We searched for relevant trials registered up to May 2013 in 14 databases. We selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared acupuncture, with or without additional treatment, against placebo, sham, no treatment, or the same additional treatment. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection, data extraction, risk of bias and reporting quality appraisal. Risk of bias and reporting quality were appraised by the Cochrane risk of bias tool, the consolidated standards of reporting trials and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture. The outcomes were sperm motility, sperm concentration, pregnancy rate, and adverse events. Pregnancy was defined as a positive pregnancy test. Four RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Acupuncture increased the percentage of sperm with rapid progression (mean difference - 6.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.38-8.32, P< 0.00001) and sperm concentration (mean difference - 6.42, 95% CI: 4.91-7.92, P< 0.00001), but these two outcomes were substantially heterogeneous among the studies (I 2 = 72% and 58%, respectively). No differences in pregnancy rate were found between acupuncture and control groups (odds ratio 1.60, 95% CI: 0.70-3.69, P= 0.27, I 2 = 0%). No participants experienced adverse events. The current evidence showing that acupuncture might improve poor semen quality is insufficient because of the small number of studies, inadequacy of procedures and/or insufficient information for semen analysis, high levels of heterogeneity, high risk of bias, and poor quality of reporting. Further large, well-designed RCTs are required.http://www.ajandrology.com/article.asp?issn=1008-682X;year=2014;volume=16;issue=6;spage=884;epage=891;aulast=Jerngacupuncture; asthenozoospermia; male infertility; oligozoospermia; sperm quality |
| spellingShingle | Ui Min Jerng Jun-Young Jo Seunghoon Lee Jin-Moo Lee Ohmin Kwon The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis Asian Journal of Andrology acupuncture; asthenozoospermia; male infertility; oligozoospermia; sperm quality |
| title | The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | acupuncture; asthenozoospermia; male infertility; oligozoospermia; sperm quality |
| url | http://www.ajandrology.com/article.asp?issn=1008-682X;year=2014;volume=16;issue=6;spage=884;epage=891;aulast=Jerng |
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