Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Male Immune Infertility

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.