{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]],"date-time":"2026-03-11T21:41:09Z","timestamp":1773265269717,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]],"date-time":"2026-03-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773187200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Asthenospermia is one of the most common causes of male infertility. In recent years, with changes in dietary habits, the number of obese patients with asthenospermia has been increasing, leading to a decline in male fertility. However, there remains a lack of safe and effective treatments for this condition.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aims to confirm the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in obese patients with asthenospermia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In our randomized controlled trial, 72 patients will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either acupuncture treatment or sham acupuncture treatment. Each group will receive treatment two times weekly for twelve weeks with another twelve weeks for follow-up. The primary outcome is the progressive sperm motility (PR). And the secondary outcomes include PR plus non-progressive sperm motility, sperm concentration, semen volume, sperm morphology, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage. We will also evaluate adverse events that occur during the acupuncture process.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study is expected to demonstrate whether acupuncture is effective and safe in the treatment of asthenospermia in obese men.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The research findings will firstly provide new therapeutic evidence in treating asthenospermia of obese men and offer an alternative treatment options for improving the fertility of obese men.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Study protocol registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:ext-link>https:\/\/itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      , identifier ITMCTR2025002025.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1749806","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]],"date-time":"2026-03-11T05:36:23Z","timestamp":1773207383000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of asthenospermia in obese men: study protocol for a randomized control trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Hao","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Guo Jun Qihuang Scholar Inheritance Studio, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Ningxia, China"]},{"name":"Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yongqing","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hongyuan","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Wenguang","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jun","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guo Jun Qihuang Scholar Inheritance Studio, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine","place":["Ningxia, China"]},{"name":"Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Linda","family":"Zhong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University","place":["Singapore, Singapore"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1027","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(23)02750-2","article-title":"Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults.","volume":"403","author":"Phelps","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108549","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pharmthera.2023.108549","article-title":"Obesity and its comorbidities, current treatment options and future perspectives: challenging bariatric surgery?","volume":"251","author":"Kloock","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pharmacol Therapeutics."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"354","DOI":"10.18553\/jmcp.2021.20410","article-title":"Direct medical costs of obesity in the United States and the most populous states.","volume":"27","author":"Cawley","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Manag Care Spec Pharm."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101712","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ando.2025.101712","article-title":"Obesity and its treatment: toward new approaches.","volume":"86","author":"Segrestin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Annales d\u2019Endocrinol."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2222","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2009.01.100","article-title":"Body mass index in relation to semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, and serum reproductive hormone levels among men attending an infertility clinic.","volume":"93","author":"Chavarro","year":"2010","journal-title":"Fertility Sterility."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"581","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2009.03.085","article-title":"Semen parameters and hormonal profile in obese fertile and infertile males.","volume":"94","author":"Hofny","year":"2010","journal-title":"Fertil Steril."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2365","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/des177","article-title":"Body mass index and central adiposity are associated with sperm quality in men of subfertile couples.","volume":"27","author":"Hammiche","year":"2012","journal-title":"Human Reproduction."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12888","DOI":"10.1111\/and.12888","article-title":"Association between obesity and sperm quality.","volume":"50","author":"Ramaraju","year":"2018","journal-title":"Andrologia."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2054","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines13092054","article-title":"Progress in investigating the impact of obesity on male reproductive function.","volume":"13","author":"Kang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Biomedicines."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1098","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fertnstert.2023.10.017","article-title":"The impact of obesity and metabolic health on male fertility: a systematic review.","volume":"120","author":"Service","year":"2023","journal-title":"Fertil Steril."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2635","DOI":"10.22037\/uj.v13i2.3279","article-title":"Comparing the effectiveness of dietary vitamin C and exercise interventions on fertility parameters in normal obese men.","volume":"13","author":"Rafiee","year":"2016","journal-title":"Urol J."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1111\/dom.16042","article-title":"Semaglutide improved sperm morphology in obese men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and functional hypogonadism.","volume":"27","author":"Gregori\u00e8","year":"2025","journal-title":"Diabetes Obes Metab."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1341","DOI":"10.1007\/s11695-022-05901-8","article-title":"Bariatric surgery does not improve semen quality: evidence from a meta-analysis.","volume":"32","author":"Gao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Obes Surg."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2587","DOI":"10.21037\/tau-24-409","article-title":"A narrative review of acupuncture for sexual dysfunction: perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.","volume":"13","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Transl Androl Urol."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e00001","DOI":"10.1097\/IMNA-D-22-00001","article-title":"Traditional Chinese medicine regulates inflammatory factors in chronic prostatitis\/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a review.","volume":"10","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Integr Med Nephrol Androl."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2822","DOI":"10.7150\/thno.51869","article-title":"Roles of CatSper channels in the pathogenesis of asthenozoospermia and the therapeutic effects of acupuncture-like treatment on asthenozoospermia.","volume":"11","author":"Jin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Theranostics."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1080","DOI":"10.1111\/and.12541","article-title":"Randomised clinical trial of comparing effects of acupuncture and varicocelectomy on sperm parameters in infertile varicocele patients.","volume":"48","author":"Kucuk","year":"2016","journal-title":"Andrologia."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1186\/s12906-024-04340-5","article-title":"Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial.","volume":"24","author":"Lam","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Complement Med Ther."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1756-5391.2010.01086.x","article-title":"Revised Standards for reporting interventions in clinical trials of acupuncture (STRICTA): extending the consort statement.","volume":"3","author":"MacPherson","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Evid Based Med."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e7586","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.e7586","article-title":"SPIRIT 2013 explanation and elaboration: guidance for protocols of clinical trials.","volume":"346","author":"Chan","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMJ."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1038\/s41585-022-00593-2","article-title":"Evolution of the world health organization semen analysis manual: where are we?","volume":"19","author":"Esteves","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nat Rev Urol."},{"key":"B22","volume-title":"WS\/T428 - 2013 Adult Weight Determination.","year":"2013"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cct.2003.10.016","article-title":"Assessment of blinding in clinical trials.","volume":"25","author":"Bang","year":"2004","journal-title":"Control Clin Trials."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1421","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1097-0258(19960715)15:133.0.CO;2-H","article-title":"An index for assessing blindness in a multi-centre clinical trial: disulfiram for alcohol cessation\u2013a VA cooperative study.","volume":"15","author":"James","year":"1996","journal-title":"Stat Med."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1093\/ecam\/nep006","article-title":"WHO standard acupuncture point locations.","volume":"7","author":"Lim","year":"2010","journal-title":"Evid Based Complement Alternat Med."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1632822","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2025.1632822","article-title":"Electro-acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: study protocol of a pilot, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial.","volume":"16","author":"Lam","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Neurol."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1186\/s12610-023-00215-w","article-title":"Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of psychogenic erectile dysfunction: study protocol for a randomized control trial.","volume":"33","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Basic Clin Androl."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e13617","DOI":"10.1111\/and.13617","article-title":"Obesity and male infertility: mechanisms and management.","volume":"53","author":"Leisegang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Andrologia."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"763","DOI":"10.1002\/2211-5463.13589","article-title":"Obesity-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction negatively affect sperm quality.","volume":"13","author":"Jing","year":"2023","journal-title":"FEBS Open Bio."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.240091","article-title":"Weight loss as therapeutic option to restore fertility in obese men: a meta-analytic study.","volume":"43","author":"Santi","year":"2025","journal-title":"World J Mens Health."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"743","DOI":"10.1136\/postgradmedj-2017-134969","article-title":"Acupuncture for the treatment of obesity in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"93","author":"Zhang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Postgrad Med J."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101658","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctcp.2022.101658","article-title":"Acupuncture in treating obesity combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.","volume":"49","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Complement Ther Clin Pract."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e23","DOI":"10.1097\/IMNA-D-23-00028","article-title":"Acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: a review.","volume":"11","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Integr Med Nephrol Androl."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1186\/s12610-023-00215-w","article-title":"Efficacy of acupuncture for psychogenic erectile dysfunction: a randomized, sham-controlled trial.","volume":"33","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Basic Clin Androl."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-789X.2011.00979.x","article-title":"A systematic review on use of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for treatment of obesity.","volume":"13","author":"Sui","year":"2012","journal-title":"Obes Rev."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1009537","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2022.1009537","article-title":"The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: a literature review.","volume":"13","author":"Feng","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4039","DOI":"10.2147\/IJGM.S417066","article-title":"The role of acupuncture and its related mechanism in treating chronic prostatitis\/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.","volume":"16","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Gen Med."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1186\/s12610-024-00239-w","article-title":"The role of acupuncture in treating premature ejaculation and its probable neurobiological mechanism.","volume":"34","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Basic Clin Androl."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1007\/s11655-020-3211-7","article-title":"Effectiveness and safety evaluation of Qixiong Zhongzi decoction () in idiopathic asthenozoospermia treatment: a randomized controlled trial.","volume":"26","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chin J Integr Med."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1136\/acupmed-2012-010251","article-title":"Additional evidence for the sustained effect of acupuncture at the vision-related acupuncture point, GB37.","volume":"31","author":"Liu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Acupunct Med."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1749806\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]],"date-time":"2026-03-11T05:36:24Z","timestamp":1773207384000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1749806\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]]},"references-count":40,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2026.1749806"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1749806","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,11]]},"article-number":"1749806"}}