Men may seek acupuncture for a range of health concerns including fatigue, poor sleep, stress, reduced wellbeing and changes associated with ageing.
Many factors can influence men’s health, including work stress, exercise habits, sleep quality, medical conditions, medications and lifestyle factors.
Common Reasons Men Seek Acupuncture
- Fatigue and low energy
- Stress and irritability
- Poor sleep
- General wellbeing
- Healthy ageing
What Does the Research Say?
Acupuncture has been investigated for a range of men’s health concerns, including erectile dysfunction.
A randomised controlled trial reported improvements in erectile function and quality of life in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction following a six-week acupuncture program. However, larger studies are still required and the findings may not apply to all causes of erectile dysfunction (Wang et al., 2023).
A systematic review concluded that the overall quality of evidence remains limited and further high-quality research is needed before firm conclusions can be made (Lai et al., 2019).
Speak With Your GP
Changes in energy levels, sleep, mood, sexual function or general wellbeing can sometimes be associated with underlying medical conditions.
A medical assessment may be appropriate, particularly if symptoms are new, worsening, persistent, or affecting your quality of life.
Your GP can help assess for possible contributing factors such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hormonal conditions, medication side effects, sleep disorders or other health concerns.
Individualised Care
Traditional Chinese Medicine considers factors such as sleep, stress, energy levels and overall health when developing an individualised treatment plan.
Depending on the individual, treatment may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, lifestyle advice or a combination of approaches.
Results vary between individuals and no specific outcome can be guaranteed.
References
Wang H, Lei X, Ma D, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for psychogenic erectile dysfunction: a randomized, sham-controlled trial. Basic and Clinical Andrology. 2023;33:40. doi:10.1186/s12610-023-00215-w
Lai BY, Cao HJ, Yang GY, et al. Acupuncture for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World Journal of Men’s Health. 2019;37(3):322-338. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180090
