Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42086366›Full record

ArticleThe Canadian journal of urology2026

Electroacupuncture for sperm improvement in varicocele: a case report.

Ida Nurwati, Uki Retno Budihastuti, Bhisma Murti, Teguh Prakosa, Metanolia Sukmawati

Abstract readCase Reports
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Canadian journal of urology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ida NurwatiFaculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Jawa Tengah, 57126, Indonesia.
Uki Retno BudihastutiFaculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Jawa Tengah, 57126, Indonesia.
Bhisma MurtiPublic Health Science Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Jawa Tengah, 57126, Indonesia.
Teguh PrakosaFaculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Jawa Tengah, 57126, Indonesia.
Metanolia SukmawatiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Jawa Tengah, 57126, Indonesia.

Funding

Universitas Sebelas Maret under the Mandatory Riset program 228/UN27.22/PT.01.03/2023
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVaricocele is a common cause of male infertility, often associated with impaired sperm quality, hormonal imbalance, and increased DNA fragmentation. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proposed as an adjunct therapy to improve reproductive parameters, but clinical evidence remains limited. CASE DESCRIPTION: This case report describes a 38-year-old male with a varicocele treated at Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Indonesia. The patient underwent 16 sessions of EA therapy. Sperm parameters and serum testosterone levels were measured before and after treatment. Following EA, sperm concentration improved from 5.2 to 6.7 × 106/mL, motility increased from 43% to 60%, and normal morphology rose from 1% to 3%. Testosterone levels increased from 329.6 to 596.2 ng/dL, while the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) decreased from 40% to 19.6%.

conclusionsThis case suggests that EA therapy may improve sperm quality, enhance testosterone levels, and reduce DFI in a patient with varicocele. However, further controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings due to the limitations of a single case report.

Indexed as

ElectroacupunctureInfertility, MaleVaricoceleAdultHumansMaleSperm CountSperm MotilityTestosteroneTestosteronecase reportelectroacupunctureinfertilitysperm motility

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.