The effect of leech therapy on improving sperm quality in men

Comparison of sperm parameters and sperm function tests before and after Leech therapy: a clinical trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT20230502058045N1

Enrollment

Registered

2025-10-05

Start date

2023-07-23

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-10-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sperm function tests (infertility).

Interventions

Intervention 1: Intervention Group (Recipient of Leech Therapy):Participants in this group will undergo 3 sessions of leech therapy (each session lasting 20 to 45 minutes) using medicinal leeches (Hir

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Male

Age

20 Years to 50 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Men aged 20-50 years Diagnosed with male infertility Willing to provide informed consent No use of other fertility treatments during study period

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Using parallel treatment methods during research Unwillingness to continue participation History of bleeding disorders Acute infections or fever Severe chronic diseases

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Comparison of sperm parameters (count, motility, morphology) and sperm functional tests (DNA health, protamine levels) before and after leech therapy in men with infertility, measured at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. These variables assess the effect of leech therapy on improving sperm quality and function. Timepoint: Measurement times: 1. Before the intervention (baseline): Initial assessment of sperm parameters and functional tests. 2. Three months after the last leech therapy session: Re-assessment of parameters to measure the effect of the intervention. Method of measurement: Sperm parameters: Analysis with sperm counter (number), CASA software (motility), and Diff-Quik staining (morphology) according to WHO standards. DNA health: Evaluation by TUNEL method (fluorescence microscopy). Protamine level: Measurement by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining.	—

Measure

Time frame

Comparison of sperm parameters (count, motility, morphology) and sperm functional tests (DNA health, protamine levels) before and after leech therapy in men with infertility, measured at baseline and 3 months after the intervention. These variables assess the effect of leech therapy on improving sperm quality and function. Timepoint: Measurement times: 1. Before the intervention (baseline): Initial assessment of sperm parameters and functional tests. 2. Three months after the last leech therapy session: Re-assessment of parameters to measure the effect of the intervention. Method of measurement: Sperm parameters: Analysis with sperm counter (number), CASA software (motility), and Diff-Quik staining (morphology) according to WHO standards. DNA health: Evaluation by TUNEL method (fluorescence microscopy). Protamine level: Measurement by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining.

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Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public ContactMozhde sadat Abtahi forooshani

Islamic Azad University

mo_abtahi66@yahoo.com+98 31 3130 0836

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026