Clinical Efficacy of Prodom-Assisted Urokinase in the Treatment of Male Infertility Caused by Impaired Semen Liquefaction

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of prodom in the administration of urokinase in the vagina in couples with impaired semen liquefaction. Materials and Methods. Overall, 261 patients with impaired semen liquefaction were randomly divided into prodom-assisted urokinase treatment (PAUT) group ( n = 91 ), syringe-assisted urokinase treatment (SAUT) group ( n = 86 ), and traditional treatment (TT) group ( n = 84 ) in the first stage. If the first stage of treatment failed, other treatment methods were initiated instead and the patients were grouped according to the newer treatment method in the second stage. The pregnancy rate, time-to-conception, and treatment costs were evaluated in each group. Results. In the first stage, the pregnancy rate in the PAUT, SAUT, and TT groups was 69.23%, 29.07%, and 22.62%, respectively; the time-to-conception was 2.66 ± 1.44 , 3.69 ± 2.61 , and 3.86 ± 3.00 months, respectively; the treatment costs were 658.18 ± 398.40 , 666.67 ± 507.50 , and 680.56 ± 480.94 $, respectively. The pregnancy rate and time-to-conception were different in the PAUT group compared with those in SAUT and TT groups (all P < 0.05 ). However, the difference in treatment costs was not significant ( P = 0.717 ). In the second stage, 154 nonpregnant patients were divided into nine treatment groups, and the effects of changing TT to PAUT on the pregnancy rate, time-to-conception, and treatment costs were observed to be different from those of other treatments (all P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Prodom-assisted urokinase can effectively treat male infertility secondary to impaired semen liquefaction.

Studies on improving semen quality and increasing pregnancy chances through the in vitro addition of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 to semen in patients with asthenozoospermia

“…In this study, supplementation with CoQ10 in semen in vitro improved progressive sperm motility to 23.0 ± 4.8% and sperm motility to 36.9 ± 4.4%. Thus, the pregnancy rate improved to 35.4% through assisted by the device of Prodom [ 23 , 24 ] and supplementation of CoQ10 into the partner’s vagina during sexual intercourse and synchronized with ejaculation. This suggests that in vitro supplementation with CoQ10 is effective in the treatment of ASZ and that it is superior to in vivo supplementation [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…In this study, adding L-carnitine combined with CoQ10 to semen in vitro improved sperm motility by 28.4 ± 5.0% and sperm motility by 43.8 ± 5.4%. A Prodom [ 23 , 24 ], a device used to administer therapeutic drugs during intercourse by adding LC and CoQ10 to semen as it enters the partner’s vagina, facilitates synchronization with ejaculation and achieved a high pregnancy rate in clinical efficacy trials. These results suggest that LC combined with CoQ10 was more effective in the treatment of ASZ in vitro than in vivo [ 29 – 31 ].…”

“…Composition of Prodom: the Prodom described in this study was mainly composed of polyurethane film (PU film) and an injection catheter. It was coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive on the inner side of the PU film (see references [ 23 , 24 ] for details).…”

“…Operating process of Prodom: (1) Before sex between the husband and wife, drugs used in the study, such as LC and CoQ10, were drawn into a syringe, while the Prodom was pasted onto the erect penis with the pressure-sensitive adhesive set of PU film; (2) The drug from a syringe drawn beforehand was injected into the partner’s vagina. It was synchronized with ejaculation, and the drug blends with spermatozoa in the vagina (see references [ 23 , 24 ] for details).…”

“…The author has used chymotrypsin and urokinase to treat male infertility caused by impaired semen liquefaction through a special device designed by us, namely, a Prodom, and the results were encouraging [ 23 , 24 ]. The aforementioned Prodom is an assisted reproductive device that is temporarily fitted onto the penis to facilitate the husband and wife injecting a certain drug into the vagina simultaneously with ejaculation during coitus.…”