The idea of getting pregnant and having a baby is natural, and many people have considered it at one point in their lives. It often starts by finding the love of your life, marriage, and starting a family. Others have a different approach, and that works too. However, when you don't have difficulties in getting pregnant, you may not consider the anguish and grief millions of people suffer through infertility. It happens to both men and women, and it can be devastating.
You don't know you can't get pregnant until you try, From the first time you
imagine having kids, you assume it will naturally occur at the right time. But when it is not forthcoming, as anticipated, your life can come to a standstill.
If this is you, know that there is hope. Chiropractic adjustments can help your body conceive, and carry a child.
In this article, we are going to find out how chiropractic therapy can be beneficial in overcoming infertility, why chiropractic adjustments can be useful during IVF, what to expect regarding costs, and how many sessions are often recommended.
Two Forms of Infertility
Primary infertility: Occurs in women who have never been pregnant
Secondary infertility: Occurs when a woman has been pregnant one or more times but has difficulty in getting pregnant again.
A chiropractor is trained to detect and remove subluxations, which disrupt the body's optimal functioning and healing system. Chiropractic treatment is based on the fact that the nervous system (spinal cord, brain, and the peripheral nerves) coordinates and controls every function of the body.
This helps an individual to accommodate the ever-changing environment, which brings about body adaptation and triggers self-healing. Any interference to the nervous system can prevent the body from functioning at 100%, which then leads to a distorted perception and adaptation response to external stimuli. This can be helpful in the body's ability to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Why See a Chiropractor Before In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Infertility is commonly treated with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This is a process where eggs are fertilized outside the body, followed by implantation into the woman's uterus. It also involves the use of drugs and injection of hormones during the process. Unfortunately, IVF does not always succeed. It is also worth mentioning that IVF costs about $10,000 minimum for each attempt.
Although some people have recorded varying success with IVF, it is important to note that when you alter the normal bodily functions with man-made ways, there is a high risk for abnormalities to occur. The side effects can range from bloating, headaches, pain, mood swings, and many more. These are indicators that you are adding more stress on an already stressed body.
How Does Chiropractic Help Pregnancy?
Infertility problems are mostly caused by poor lifestyle habits, high stress, poor nutrition, or impaired nervous system function. Many medical doctors and women fail to appreciate the vital role the nervous system plays when it comes to fertility.
The reproductive organs are not under your conscious control. Their activities are directed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), a branch of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS is under the direct control of the central nervous system (CNS), which comprises the brain & spinal cord.
For a woman to conceive, her egg must travel from the ovary to the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by a sperm. The movement of an egg is made possible by the rhythmic, smooth muscular action of peristalsis. Peristalsis is also responsible for the movement of food through the digestive tract. The peristaltic movement of the egg, by the smooth muscle activities, is controlled by the CNS and PNS.
If you have ever spoken to a chiropractor, it's likely you'll have heard of subluxations. These are misalignments in the spine that disrupt the nerve communication between the PNS and CNS.
Subluxations can be caused by poor posture, motor vehicle accidents, stress, scoliosis, or a congenital defect. When there is a misalignment in the vertebra of the lower back, there will be a disruption of nerve communication between the reproductive organs and the CNS.
This can lead to insufficient peristaltic activity, which hinders the movement of the egg, preventing it from reaching its destination. The end result is often the inability to conceive, or in some cases, endometriosis.
Chiropractors are experts in locating subluxations and eliminating nerve interference with specific techniques. This allows the body to self-heal, as originally intended by nature.
How Effective Is Chiropractic Therapy for Infertility?
According to a study's findings published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, chiropractic care was found effective for infertility. It reported that out of a sample of 15 women of age 22 - 65 with a history of infertility, 14 became pregnant within 2 - 20 months of chiropractic care. The 65-year-old woman who didn't get pregnant (after a lifetime of no menstrual periods) began menstruating after four weeks of chiropractic care.
In another study report published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 11 women of a mean age of 31, with documented histories of infertility, participated in this study. All of them got pregnant after 5 months of chiropractic care (spinal manipulation and adjunctive modalities) with no adverse effects reported.
How Many Sessions Are Recommended?
In a report from a study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 15 women had their subluxations treated and reduced, over two to 20 months.
In the end, each woman conceived and delivered a healthy baby. However, each case is uniquely different. Your therapist will determine the number of sessions and the length it will take based on evaluation and feedback from your body.
What Will Chiropractic Care Cost for Infertility?
The average price per session in the country is $35-$250.The overall cost of your chiropractic treatment for infertility will depend on the number of sessions that you go to and how frequently you go for an adjustment. The effectiveness of chiropractic therapy for infertility can be as short as two months or as long as two years. For more information, read: How Much Does Chiropractic Therapy Cost?
References
Budgell, B., & Yee, B. (2018). A scoping review of chiropractic management of female patients with infertility. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 62(2), 117-124. Retrieved May 13, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6173223/
Deatsman, S., Vasilopoulos, T., & Rhoton-Vlasak, A. (2016). Age and Fertility: A Study on Patient Awareness. JBRA assisted reproduction, 20(3), 99-106. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20160024. Retrieved May 13, 2019 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5264372/
Hhs.gov. (2019, March 21). Female Infertility. Retrieved May 13, 2019, from https://www.hhs.gov/opa/reproductive-health/fact-sheets/female-infertility/index.html
Insult, Interference, and Infertility: An Overview of Chiropractic Research. (n.d.). Retrieved May 13, 2019, from https://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2017/09/06/insult-interference-and-infertility-an-overview-of-chiropractic-research/
