Effects of Korean Red Ginseng on Male Infertility
Effects of Korean Red Ginseng on Male Infertility
Objective: Several in vitro studies report positive effects of ginseng on spermatogenesis.
 However, no controlled human clinical study of the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on
 spermatogenesis has been performed. This study was performed to investigate the effects of
 KRG on semen parameters in male infertility patients in a randomized, double-blind,
 placebo-controlled study. Methods: A total of 80 male infertility patients with varicocele
 were recruited from April 2011 to February 2012. The subjects were then divided into the
 following four groups: non-V + P group, placebo; V + P group, placebo and varicocelectomy;
 non-V + KRG group, 1.5-g KRG daily; V + KGR group, 1.5-g KRG daily and varicocelectomy. Semen
 analysis was performed and hormonal levels were measured in each treatment arm after 12
 weeks.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients should be males, 25 - 45 years of age

 -  Complained of infertility for at least 12 months

 -  No history of surgical or medical treatments for infertility

 -  Increased retrograde flow in the internal spermatic vein with venous diameter > 3 mm
 during the Valsalva maneuver on scrotal ultrasonography was used as an indicator of
 varicocele.13 Varicocele was graded according to the criteria presented by Lyon et
 al.14: grade I, palpable only with the Valsalva maneuver; Grade II, palpable without
 the Valsalva maneuver; Grade III, visible from a distance.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  The exclusion criteria were as follows:

 -  A history of vasectomy or obstructive azoospermia

 -  Chromosomal abnormalities

 -  Hypogonadism or pituitary abnormalities

 -  Anatomical abnormality of the genitals

 -  Significant hepatopathy (liver enzymes elevated 2 - 3-fold higher than the normal
 range)

 -  Renal insufficiency (serum creatinine level > 2.5 mg/dL)

 -  Medical treatment for infertility during the past 4 weeks