Since the advent of ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) problems with male factor in infertility can be addressed and bypassed with this procedure. The ICSI procedure allows particular sperm to be selected for use and manually injected into the egg by the embryologist using a microscopic needle.
But does ICSI always give us the best outcomes?
If the quality of sperm is sub-optimal, the question one has to ask is what impact will this have on the ongoing pregnancy and health of the child going forward?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) our Jing is the substance we inherit from our parents at the moment of conception. Our Jing fuels our growth and development not just through conception and prenatal growth, but all through our lives from infancy to puberty, adulthood and beyond. Jing dictates our constitution and vitality as we move and age through life.
So if we completely disregard the quality of the sperm in favour of the ICSI procedure, what impact will have on the health of the life created? If a sperm is unable to penetrate an egg on its own, what does that say about the underlying Qi of that sperm?
So although ISCI is a wonderful and exceptional advancement in fertility medicine and assisted reproductive techniques, I do believe it should be firmly balanced with other perspectives of male health and vitality.
Sperm are continually created within the body, so taking a break for around 3 months before the next round of IVF is an optimal amount of time to put lifestyle changes in place. Dietary, lifestyle and nutritional changes can have a huge impact on sperm quality.[1] Taking this time and making this effort to improve the underlying Qi and Jing that is passed onto the next generation is fundamentally important. Things to consider:
- Stop smoking/vaping;
- Reduced consumption of refined sugars, processed foods,
- Reduced consumption of alcohol;
- Increased consumption of a wide variety of vegetables and fruit;
- Take regular exercise;
- Increased water intake;
- Reduce the use of plastics for cooking and water/food storage (switch to glass)
- Supplement with a good quality preconception multivitamin to include zinc, selenium, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants;
- Reduce stress (look at meditation, reflexology, acupuncture, spending time in nature);
- Keep mobile phone away from body [2];
- Ejaculate frequently [3].
Other options to explore before diving straight into IVF/ICSI:
- Having a full examination to rule out varicocele, hydrocele and other physical abnormalities;
- Bloods taken for a full hormone profile;
- Checking the microbiome to rule out any infection which might be causing levels of damage to the sperm.
“Mounting evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays a key role in normal spermatogenesis and can be negatively impacted by diet and environmental perturbations.” [3]
Of course, every couple is individual, and factors such as age, for example, will also determine your route to IVF and ICSI.
If you are looking for fertility support in Lancashire please get in touch.
If you would like support through your fertility/IVF/ICSI journey with acupuncture please get in touch.
References
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32397485/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7848840/
[3] https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1477-7827-10-115
[4] https://www.fertstertreviews.org/article/S2666-5719(23)00001-4/fulltext
Elder Cottage Clinic, Warton. 