Herbal sex remedy linked to cancer
Reuters, CanWest - Two men seeking to boost sexual performance and grow bigger muscles instead ended up with advanced prostate cancer after taking “herbal” supplements, US doctors said. Read more
Sex drive booster bean improves sperm quality, cuts stress in infertile men
CM NEWS - Extract of a bean used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicines as sex drive booster, known in modern days for being a dopamine engine, has been shown as effective in reducing stress and improving quality of semen of infertile men. Read more
New Chinese medicine formula ups sperm quality
CM NEWS - A Chinese medicine formula “Sperm Increasing Granule” derived by TCM doctors in China shows promising results in improving quality of sperms of infertile men.
The Zengjing or “Sperm Increasing” Granule (增精顆粒) is a new TCM formula came out from the Chengdu TCM University. The content of “Sperm Increasing Granule” includes: Read more
Machoism’s effect? Most men avoid preventive health measures: survey
PRNewswire - From skipping important health screenings to avoiding a visit to the doctor altogether, new results from a survey released by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) indicate men continue to fall short when it comes to managing their personal health.
The AAFP recently surveyed 2,282 men and women across the country about their health behaviours.
Among the findings:
- More than half (55%) of all men surveyed have not seen their primary care physician for a physical exam within the past year.
- Four in 10 (42%) men have been diagnosed with at least one of the following chronic conditions: high blood pressure (28%), heart disease (8%), arthritis (13%), cancer (8%) or diabetes (10%).
- Almost one in five men (18%) 55 years and older have never received the recommended screening for colon cancer.
- More than one out of four men (29%) say they wait “as long as possible” before seeking help when they feel sick or are in pain or are concerned about their health.
Despite this, almost 8 in 10 (79%) men describe themselves as in “Excellent,” “Very Good,” or “Good” health.
Men in the United States may not be as healthy as they say they are. The survey showed men spend an average of 19 hours a week watching television, and more than four hours a week watching sports, but just slightly more than one- third (38%) of men exercise on a regular basis.
And, the CDC estimates, almost three out of four (71%) men are overweight.
“One of the biggest obstacles to improving the health of men is men themselves,” said Rick Kellerman, M.D., President of the AAFP. “They don’t make their health a priority. Fortunately, 78 percent of the men with a spouse or significant other surveyed say their spouse or significant other has some influence over their decision to go to the doctor.”
Family physicians focus on prevention and the early detection of illness by treating the whole person and the whole family — men, women, children, and the elderly. Family physicians provide routine check-ups,health-risk assessments, immunizations, screening tests and personalized counseling on healthy lifestyle choices. They also manage chronic illnesses and coordinate care, when appropriate, with other specialists.
“Many men are unaware that simple screening tests and lifestyle changes can dramatically improve their quality of life,” Kellerman said. “Family physicians are well equipped to address men’s physical, mental and emotional health concerns and provide the medical guidance necessary to keep them in the best of health.”
For more information on men’s health and other family health topics, please visit http://www.familydoctor.org.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians between April 30 and May 2, 2007, among 2,282 adults (aged 18 and older) 1111 of which were men. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
With a pure probability sample of 2,282, one could say with a 95% probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- 5 percentage points. Sampling error for data based on sub-samples would be higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
New TCM formula fights male immune infertility
CM NEWS - A Chinese medicinal formula, Huzhangdanshenyin (虎杖丹參飲), derived by researchers in Xiamen, China has been proved more effective than corticosteroids in targetting male immune infertility - but without the side effects of steroids.
What is male immune infertility? Sperm are relatively protected from the immune system by a natural protective mechanism called the blood-testes barrier. Tight connections between the cells lining the male reproductive tract keep immune cells from gaining entry to the sperm within. If an injury breaches this barrier, then the immune system has access to sperm and antibodies are formed.
Antisperm antibodies have been reported in approximately 10% of infertile men, compared to less than 1% of fertile men. The prevalence of antibodies jumps dramatically in men who have had surgery on their reproductive tract: nearly 70% of men who have undergone a vasectomy reversal will have antibodies present on their sperm. Women have a much lower chance for developing antibodies to sperm: less than 5% of infertile women can be shown to have antisperm antibodies, and it is unclear who is at risk for their formation.
Who is at risk for antisperm antibodies?
Anything that disrupts the normal blood-testes barrier can result in the formation of antisperm antibodies. This may include any of the following conditions:
- Vasectomy reversal
- Varicocele (dilation of the veins surrounding the spermatic cord)
- Testicular torsion (twisting of the testicle)
- Congenital absence of the vas deferens
- Testicular biopsy
- Cryptorchidism (failure of testicular descent)
- Testicular cancer
- Infection (orchitis, prostatitis)
- Inguinal hernia repair prior to puberty
The study done at the Department of Andrology, Xiamen TCM Hospital Affiliated to Fujian TCM College selected 90 men with immune infertility and randomly divided them into two groups: 60 in the treatment group, treated by Huzhangdanshenyin, and the other 30 in the control, treated by prednisone, both for 3 months.
What is prednisone? Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug which is usually taken orally but can be delivered by intramuscular injection and can be used for a large number of different conditions. It has a mainly glucocorticoid effect. Prednisone is a prodrug that is converted by the liver into prednisolone, which is the active drug and also a steroid.
Prednisone is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant and affects virtually all of the immune system. It can therefore be used in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases (such as severe asthma, severe poison ivy dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Crohn’s disease), various kidney diseases including nephrotic syndrome, and to prevent and treat rejection in organ transplantation. This medicine may also reduce the sex drive.
Huzhangdanshenyin was derived these researchers. The formula includes:
Hu zhang (虎杖) 15g
Pu gong ying (蒲公英; Herba Taraxaci Mongolici cum Radice, dandelion) 15g
Zi cao (紫草, radix arnebia, stoneweed) 15g
Huang qi (黃芪, Radix astragali) 15g
Dan shen (丹參, Salvia miltiorrhiza, or Chinese sage) 15g
Chi shao (赤芍, root of common peony) 15g
Dang gui (當歸, Radix Angelicae sinensis, roots of Chinese angelica) 15g
Hong hua (紅花, Flos Carthami Tinctorii) 10g
Shou wu (首烏, Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Chinese knotweed) 15g
Nu zhen zi (女貞子, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, privet fruit) 15g
Sheng di (生地, Rehmannia Radix) 15g
Xian ling pi (仙靈脾, Herba Epimedii, epimedium) 15g
The researchers then observed the subjects’ improvement of clinical symptoms, immunologic indexes (antisperm antibodies in serum and seminal plasma) and sperm indexes (semen liquefied duration, motility, viability, density and abnormal morphology rate).
How do antisperm antibodies cause infertility?
Antibodies that attach to the sperm may impair motility and make it harder for them to penetrate the cervical mucus and gain entrance to the egg; they may also cause the sperm to clump together, which is occasionally noted on a routine semen analysis. Antibodies may also interfere with the ability of the sperm to fertilize the egg.
What treatments are available for antisperm antibodies?
Suppressing the immune system with corticosteroids may decrease the production of antibodies but can result in serious side effects, including severe damage to the hipbone. Intrauterine insemination, with or without the use of fertility medications, has been used for the treatment of antisperm antibodies. It is believed to work by delivering the sperm directly into the uterus and fallopian tubes, thus bypassing the cervical mucus.
The total antisperm antibody reversing ratio of the treatment group was higher than that of the control (P < 0.01), especially the serum antisperm antibody reversing ratio. There were significant differences in the clinical cure rate and total validity rate between the treatment group and the control (P < 0.01).
After the treatment, the markers of the clinical symptoms were lower (P < 0.01), and the improvement of the clinical symptoms was better in the treatment group than in the control (P < 0.01), especially the symptoms of pain in the back and knees, distending and bearing-down sensation of the perineum and testis, hypersexuality and topoalgia.
Compared with pre-treatment, sperm motility and viability of the treatment group significantly improved (P < 0.01), and so did sperm density (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in sperm density, semen liquefied duration, abnormal morphology rate and pH (P > 0.05) before and after the treatment.
In conclusion, the study says Huzhangdanshenyin works more effectively than prednisone in the treatment of male immune infertility. It could improve the antisperm antibody reversing ratio, clinical symptoms and signs and ameliorate sperm indexes with no obvious advierse effects.
[Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2006 Aug;12(8):750-5; Chinese text here.]
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