- Characteristics of the patients (N=123).
| Characteristic | Shengjing recipe (n=50) | Xuanju capsule (n=49) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years), mean±SD | 35.31±3.18 | 34.52±4.20 | 0.920 |
| Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), mean±SD | 21.51±1.47 | 21.39±1.23 | 0.775 |
| Smoking, n (%) | 14 (28.0) | 14(28.5) | 0.963 |
| Alcohol drinking, n (%) | 11 (22.0) | 10 (20.4) | 0.805 |
| Duration of asthenospermia (years), mean±SD | 3.77±1.26 | 3.81±1.44 | 0.658 |
| Sperm motility class, %, median [range] | |||
| A | 8.49 (6.0), [10.81] | 8.3 (3.4), [14.88] | 0.883 |
| A+B | 21.28 (16.3), [28.6] | 28.85 (18.5), [40.67] | 0.006 |
| A+B+C | 50.76 (31.3), [71.98] | 48.65 (35.7), [70.98] | 0.475 |
| Semen volume, ml, mean±SD | 3.24±1.33 | 2.98±1.73 | 0.313 |
| Gonadotropins, mean±SD | |||
| FSH, mIU/mL | 4.46±1.90 | 3.73±2.47 | 0.103 |
| LH, mIU/mL | 4.09 (2.6), [5.65] | 5.5 (3.2), [7.46] | 0.038 |
| Testosterone, nmol/L | 15.5 (13.9), [17.43] | 14.8 (13.2), [16.06] | 0.168 |
| Liver and kidney function | |||
| Creatinine, µmol/L | 64.6 (53.8), [78.28] | 73.5 (55.5), [84.34] | 0.155 |
| ALT, IU/L | 21.1 (14.1), [27.5] | 32.1 (26.1), [38.4] | <0.001 |
| AST, IU/L | 35.1 (29.6), [38.6] | 36.3 (26.1), [42.9] | 0.834 |
| P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Grade A sperms are fast progressive sperms that swim quickly in a straightforward direction. Grade B sperms are slow progressive sperms that move forward but in a haphazard line or maybe a little slower. FSH: follicular-stimulating hormone; LH: luteinizing hormone, ALT: alanine transaminase, AST: aspartate transaminase, SD: standard deviation | |||