ROLE OF SIDDHA DRUGS TO ENHANCE SPERM COUNT IN SELECTED PATIENTS-A SHORT

H.Mubarak. In this new era of time, a big issue like Oligospermia is one of the most concerning factors for male infertility and threatens a considerable population in the human society. Though it is a challenging one to treat, Siddha drugs assures positive results in this area and thus making need of a mass level research. This study is a short research communication conducted at Siddha Regional Research Institute, Puducherry on five patients who attended the OPD during the period July 2009 to March 2010 retrospectively. A complete clinical history and the Semen analysis were taken before and after treatment to assess the efficacy of the Siddha drugs. The patients were administered the drugs AmukkuraChurnam 1 gm with SilasathuParpam 200 mg along with 100 ml of cow’s milk, b.i.d for a period of three months. The results were tabulated with relevant clinical and laboratory data. There was significant response in increasing the sperm count and motility and it will be carried out in mass number of patients to ascertain its potential efficacy.


H.Mubarak.
In this new era of time, a big issue like Oligospermia is one of the most concerning factors for male infertility and threatens a considerable population in the human society. Though it is a challenging one to treat, Siddha drugs assures positive results in this area and thus making need of a mass level research. This study is a short research communication conducted at Siddha Regional Research Institute, Puducherry on five patients who attended the OPD during the period July 2009 to March 2010 retrospectively. A complete clinical history and the Semen analysis were taken before and after treatment to assess the efficacy of the Siddha drugs. The patients were administered the drugs AmukkuraChurnam 1 gm with SilasathuParpam 200 mg along with 100 ml of cow's milk, b.i.d for a period of three months. The results were tabulated with relevant clinical and laboratory data. There was significant response in increasing the sperm count and motility and it will be carried out in mass number of patients to ascertain its potential efficacy.

Introduction:-
Siddha literature has described 4 types of infertility occurring in human beings. AanMaladu(Male infertility) is one among them. In this type the nature of the semen, motility and some characters has been mentioned. The AanMaladu (Male infertility) has been described in Yugi Vaidya Chinthamani as follows, The poem says the characteristic features of sperm/semen which is not capable to fertilizethe ovum. If the semen floats on water, less sweet taste, non-motile in character and excessive froth in urine indicates the infertile nature.

Physiology of the Semen:-
Semen is composed of spermatozoa (sperm), produced in the seminiferous epithelium of the testis, and seminal plasma, the components of which are secreted by the excurrent duct system and accessory sex glands. When a spermatozoon is released from the seminiferous epithelium the major structural elements are in place, but additional changes are induced by exposure to sequential milieus provided by the epididymis and mixture with fluids from the accessory sex glands at ejaculation. The mitochondria, dense fibers and microtubular elements of the axoneme, the acrosome and enzymes therein, and the multi-compartmentalized plasma membrane. Seminal plasma is the fluid portion of an ejaculum, but only one of several distinctly different fluids to which sperm are exposed. Spermatozoa are transmitted from the seminiferous epithelium in a fluid milieu, and the solutes therein are removed and replaced within the efferent ducts and epididymis. Ultimately, sperm in cauda epididymal fluid are conveyed through the vas deferens at the time of ejaculation and mixed with fluids from the accessory sex glands, namely the prostate gland, vesicular glands (i.e., seminal vesicles), and bulbourethral glands. Certain proteins and other molecules in the secretion of one or more accessory sex glands are identical to some components of cauda epididymal fluid, or even blood plasma, and others are unique products of that gland. Thus, seminal plasma includes a broad spectrum of chemical constituents contributed by the epididymis and the accessory sex glands.
The relative contributions of the epididymis or different accessory sex glands to the seminal plasma of a given ejaculum are dependent on many factors including the interval of sexual abstinence, duration of foreplay, pathophysiological processes in the male, and the species. Because semen is a mixture of spermatozoa and fluids moved by emission from the cauda epididymidis and vas deferens with fluids from the accessory sex glands, the sperm to fluid ratio is quite variable. The more important attribute is the total number of normal sperm in an ejaculum rather than the concentration of sperm per unit volume. For similar reasons, in analyses of constituents of seminal plasma, the total amount of a component should be considered in parallel with its concentration. A human might ejaculate 40-300 million spermatozoa.
Unfortunately, this goal is not easily achieved. Success in predicting fertility is limited by features of spermatozoa, the process of fertilization, and approaches used for evaluation in vitro of seminal quality. Also, spermatozoal attributes necessary for fertilization will depend on the methodology used to join the gametes, i.e., copulation or in vitro fertilization; on prior history of the sperm, i.e., freshly ejaculated sperm or frozen-thawed sperm; and on female factors, i.e., age or uterine and tubal environments. 2

Oligospermiabrief note:-
Oligospermia is also known as a low sperm count or oligozoospermia. In oligospermia there are fewer sperm cells in the ejaculate than normal. Oligospermia is generally defined as less than 20 million spermatozoa per one ml of ejaculate. Normal Sperm count: 20 million / milliliter to 120 million / milliliter. Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, Polyzoospermia, Oligozoospermia, Oligospermie, Asthenozoospermia, Asthenospermia, Teratospermia, Asthenoteratozoospermia and Teratozoospermia are terms associated with male infertility factor 3 . Oligospermia, Oligospermaesthenia (Poor Sperm Motility), Oligoasthenospermia and Oligoasthenoteratospermia are the most common type of male infertility factor exist in.
Male Infertility Factor is responsible in 30 % of infertile couple, and addition to this additional 20 % there is contributing male factor. Oligospermia is one of the main causes of male infertility or sub-fertility. Sub-fertility is a reduced ability to achieve a pregnancy while infertility is defined as the complete inability to produce a pregnancy after about one year of unprotected sexual activity. Oligospermia can be the result of many factors, some are permanent and some are reversible. Causes of Oligospermia include an obstruction of the normal flow of sperm due to such conditions as testicular trauma and vasectomy. Oligospermia may also result from scarring due to surgery on the male reproductive system or from infection and diseases. A decrease in sperm production is another cause of Oligospermia. This can be due to such conditions as varicoceles, hormonal disorders, diseases of the testicles, and obesity. Other causes of Oligospermia include stress, smoking, drug or alcohol use, some medications, exposure to some toxins, malnutrition, and being underweight. Some sexually transmitted disease, such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea can also result in oligospermia 4 .

Materials &Methods: -
Five numbers of patients were selected from the Out Patient Department of Siddha Regional Research Institute. Before starting the Siddha drugs, they were advised to undergo semen analysis in the hospital laboratory. The total count and semen concentration, motility studies were done and data were documented. They were free from other diseases and disorders like sexually transmitted diseases, infectious diseases, and endocrine disorders. The patients were asked to review every week in the Out Patient Department. After 3 months treatment duration the subjects were advised to undergo semen analysis in the same laboratory. No other treatment or drugs were administered in