Can Chinese medicine treat male infertility?

Modern medicine takes targeted treatment for infertility with a clear diagnosis of the cause. For example, for infectious infertility, antibiotics are used; for infertility caused by varicocele, surgery is performed; for endocrine disorder infertility, hormones are used. But many infertility by a series of tests without a clear cause, that is, the so-called “unexplained infertility”, for this case most of the helpless. Some although the cause is clear, for the cause of treatment, but still no effect, this situation is quite common. In addition, many primary care clinics lack the means of treatment, in this case, the use of traditional Chinese medicine is a good way to treat. It is also true that many patients have been cured. Western doctors often recommend to seek Chinese medicine treatment for some difficult and chronic diseases that are not treated well, and infertility is one of them. As a result, a large number of cases have been provided and a wealth of experience has been accumulated for the in-depth study of Chinese medicine in the treatment of infertility. Chinese medicine has a history of thousands of years of understanding of male infertility, in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing’s book “Jin Kui Yao” has: “men’s pulse floating weak and astringent, for childlessness, the essence of the cold” records. And several Chinese herbal prescriptions were formulated to treat male diseases. After continuous development, the main causes of infertility in Chinese medicine are classified as the six sexes (wind, cold, summer, humidity, dryness, fire), the seven emotions (happiness, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, shock), internal injuries, unclean sexual intercourse, excessive indulgence, inappropriate diet, abnormal labor and weariness, diseases that hurt the essence, fall and injury, congenital deficiencies, ageing, drugs and other factors that lead to the malfunction of the internal organs, Qi and blood disorders, fluid disorders, meridian injury. In addition, Chinese medicine has its advantages in the treatment of male infertility, with considerable clinical certainty of efficacy and without the advantages of side effects brought about by chemical drugs, as long as it is easy to take, patients are more willing to accept the treatment. However, the problems that need to be solved are: 1) lack of unified diagnostic and efficacy criteria; 2) fewer prospective studies with control groups, which should strengthen the design of clinical research on TCM infertility and collaborative research in order to achieve greater progress in the treatment of infertility; 3) in-depth research on effective TCM to elucidate its mechanism and to develop TCM with definite efficacy and ease of use. Chinese medicine has made great contributions to the reproduction, eugenics and fertility of our nation. In the face of the current worldwide problem of male and female infertility, Chinese medicine will play a unique advantage in the treatment. We should conduct in-depth research, continuously improve clinical efficacy, and contribute to human reproductive health.