The TCM treatment of male immune-related infertility.

The authors report excellent results in their treatment of male immunerelated infertility. Two hundred cases of male infertiity were randomly divided into two equal groups, one of which received prednisone (control) and the other Chinese herbs (treatment). In both groups the duration of the disease was from two to six years and the average age was 28.75 years. The men had various combinations of abnormal sperm density and motility, seminal and serum antisperm antibodies, chronic prostatitis, epididymitis and seminal mycoplasma. The Chinese herbal formula given to the treatment group was Yikang Tang which soothes the Liver, reinforces the Kidney, clears toxic heat and dampness, invigorates the blood and dispels blood stasis. It consists of Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) 9g, Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) 10g, Chuan Xiong (Chuan Xiong Rhizoma) 9g, Bai Hua She She Cao (Hedyotis Diffusae Herba) 12g, Ban Zhi Lian (Scutellariae Barbatae Herba) 10g, Bai Dou Kou (Amomi Rotundus Fructus) 9g, Yin Yang Huo (Epimedii Herba) 12g, Sheng Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) 20g, Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex) 9g, Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) 9g and Huang Bai (Phellondri Cortex) 9g. Results showed that sperm density and motility increased significantly in the treatment group compared to the control, and that antisperm antibodies and sperm agglutination decreased significantly. The treatment group thus showed a significant improvement in fertility compared to the control, and this was further confirmed by the pregnancy rates in the treatment group which were double those of the control. In addition, 82% of patients in the treatment group maintained the gains they had made when assessed three months after the end of the trial, compared to approximately half of that figure in the control. The authors conclude that not only were the Chinese herbs more effective than the Western medicine but they were also free of the side-effects of prednisone in long-term use and its rebound effect.