If you received a dissatisfactory result from your semen analysis, you are not alone. In fact, male infertility due to reduced sperm quality is one of the main reasons behind the need for IVF treatment. But what if we told you that there is a natural and safe treatment method that may boost your sperm quality while providing additional benefits such improved quality of sleep, better digestion, and stress relief? According to several scientific studies, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine have the potential to supercharge male fertility and improve the chances of conception.
How is this Achieved?
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs may resolve symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, low motility, and poor sperm count by correcting imbalances in the body. Specifically, acupuncture treatment may improve sperm quality by:
Supporting proper hormone signalling.
Facilitating hormone metabolism.
Enhancing organ function.
Promoting circulation (testicular blood flow).
Relieving stress and anxiety which can hinder conception.
Experienced practitioners at Centre of Balance recommend the combination of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture to give the best chance of improvement. Ideally the patient should commit to a series of regular treatments spread over several months.
What to Expect at the Acupuncture Clinic
During your visit to an acupuncture clinic such as Centre of Balance Hamilton, the practitioner will probably ask you detailed questions about your reproductive health, diet, exercise routine, mood, or sleep patterns. He or she may also conduct a physical examination of the tongue and feel the pulse at your wrists to understand your condition and the root of your imbalance. After the exams, an individual treatment plan will be presented to you. Sometimes the practitioner may incorporate Chinese herbs into the treatment plan.
If you are conservative or nervous about having needles inserted in ‘sensitive places,’ then you will be relieved to know that isn’t how the treatment works. An acupuncture point on one part of the body may produce a reaction in a completely different region. The acupuncturist will most likely needle points on the abdomen, back, lower legs, or arms to treat your sperm quality.
The Research
The scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving sperm quality is quite convincing as shown below.
According to a peer-reviewed article published in the widely acclaimed Fertility and Sterility Journal by Pei et al. (2005), acupuncture treatments administered regularly over 5 weeks led to a significant increase in sperms structural integrity and motility among infertile men.
A study by Zhang M et al. (2002) from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology recorded a 22% increase in fertilisation rates among men who underwent acupuncture treatment during IVF treatment.
Another study in the Fertility and SterilityJournal proved that stimulation of acupuncture points on the lower abdomen increased testicular blood flow (Cakmak et al., 2008).
In a pilot study by Siterman S et al. (2000), the authors attempted to identify the impact of acupuncture on sperm density by administering 10 treatments. The findings showed that the previously infertile men were able to produce sufficient sperm due to a significant increase in sperm density.
Bonus Tips for Holistic Wellbeing
Centre of Balance is dedicated to helping you achieve a state of balance and holistic wellbeing. Therefore, we advise patients to incorporate positive lifestyle changes to improve their sperm quality. They include:
Avoid wearing tight pants – sperms thrive in cooler temperatures.
Exercise regularly
Be careful with your laptop and mobile phone usage – their electromagnetic radiation is harmful
Maintain a healthy diet comprising of whole plant-based foods.
Manage stress through relaxation and acupuncture treatment
Avoid coffee, smoking, and alcohol.
Watch your weight.
Frequent sex has been shown to improve sperm quality.
To sum it up, if your sperm motility or sperm count is below par, then acupuncture is an alternative worth trying. The treatment has been refined for thousands of years and is supported by a variety of recent scientific studies. If you want to book an appointment or quench your curiosity regarding male fertility and acupuncture, kindly contact Centre of Balance Hamilton.
References
Pei, J., Strehler, E., Noss, U., Abt, M., Piomboni, P., Baccetti, B., & Sterzik, K. (2005). Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment for idiopathic male infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 84(1), 141-147.
Mingmin, Z., Guangying, H., Fuer, L., Paulus, W. E., & Sterzik, K. (2002). Influence of acupuncture on idiopathic male infertility in assisted reproductive technology. Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology [Medical Sciences], 22(3), 228-230.
Cakmak, Y. O., Akpinar, İ. N., Ekinci, G., & Bekiroglu, N. (2008). Point-and frequency-specific response of the testicular artery to abdominal electroacupuncture in humans. Fertility and Sterility, 90(5), 1732-1738.
Siterman, S., Eltes, F., Wolfson, V., Lederman, H., & Bartoov, B. (2000). Does acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study. Andrologia, 32(1), 31-39.
I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.
I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions. As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results. I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method. I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment. From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas. Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills. My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms. In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions. In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs may resolve symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, low motility, and poor sperm count by correcting imbalances in the body. Specifically, acupuncture treatment may improve sperm quality by:
During your visit to an acupuncture clinic such as Centre of Balance Hamilton, the practitioner will probably ask you detailed questions about your reproductive health, diet, exercise routine, mood, or sleep patterns. He or she may also conduct a physical examination of the tongue and feel the pulse at your wrists to understand your condition and the root of your imbalance. After the exams, an individual treatment plan will be presented to you. Sometimes the practitioner may incorporate Chinese herbs into the treatment plan.
If you are conservative or nervous about having needles inserted in ‘sensitive places,’ then you will be relieved to know that isn’t how the treatment works. An acupuncture point on one part of the body may produce a reaction in a completely different region. The acupuncturist will most likely needle points on the abdomen, back, lower legs, or arms to treat your sperm quality.
Centre of Balance is dedicated to helping you achieve a state of balance and holistic wellbeing. Therefore, we advise patients to incorporate positive lifestyle changes to improve their sperm quality. They include:
