Can Chiropractic Enhance Fertility?

Guest · Guest

My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for some time. A friend told me that chiropractic might help. Could you please explain if and how this works?

Ogi Ressel · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 8

Of all the difficulties facing couples, infertility tugs at more heart strings than any other. The anguish is nothing short of heartbreaking for many. Countless such couples have tried everything–fertility clinics, fertility-enhancing drugs, vitamin injections, counselling–to no avail. I see this with many of our patients.

To help you understand how chiropractic may help, here's a crash course in neuroanatomy. When a woman ovulates, the egg is released by the ovary and travels down a Fallopian tube to the uterus. The egg is simply a bystander going for a ride, much like a ride in a convoluted water tube at a water park. This takes place because of a very exact function of the different muscles that make up the walls of the Fallopian tube. These tubes literally "squeeze" the egg from one end to the other. The purpose of this function is to have the egg meet the sperm at the other end so that fertilization can take place. This process, called peristalsis, is very similar to swallowing what you eat; the muscles of your esophagus guide what you have just swallowed into your stomach.

In many cases of infertility, these muscles are simply not able to take the egg from one end of the Fallopian tube to the other. The fault often lies with the part of the nervous system that controls that very function. I have found that a vertebral subluxation (misalignmentL in the lower part of the spine will often affect the nervous system and frequently interfere with normal Fallopian tube function. By correcting this and allowing the nervous system to control the function of those Fallopian tubes normally, couples are able to achieve pregnancy. I would suggest you consult a chiropractor without delay.

Cilia · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

I wouldn't take this pseudo-expert's advice. He has been sued for lack of professionalism and for giving unnecessary treatments. He'll say that chiropractic can cure anything. BEWARE!

andy G · Guest

The possibilty that having your back cracked is going to help with infertility is extraordinary, to say the least. There is a study out there where 14 of 15 women previously unable to concieve did so after starting chiropractic care, but even the study's author concedes that this may have been a chance finding.

There is zero sceintific rationale for why chiropractic would help with infertility and zero proper research. Doesn't stop them making claims about it though!

The only condition for which chiropractic works a bit, is lower back pain. However, simple exercise may work as well and will be free and have additional other benefits. There is no proper scientific evidence for any other condition. There is evidence that chiropracty is assocated with increased risk of stroke.

Boss · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 96 Location: The end of a wire.

Depends on the type of lower Back Pain.

Fibromyalgia would not be helped that much at all by any exercise, nor would Ankylosing Spondylitis, and in the case of Spondylolysis, exercising could actually prevent the recovery, of the hairline fracture to the affected Vertebrae, particularly if exercise exacerbated the problem.

Although this would mainly apply to resistance work per se. Someone wearing a Back Brace, using things like NSAIDS, and planning to limit themselves, to only doing something like recumbent exercise bike work for example, would probably be okay to exercise.

Though what you said about Chropractic work in general, seems very possible, in fact I know someone who had Bone Cancer in his Neck some years ago, and he was told to get chiro. Were it not for him collpasing and being taken to the hospital, the day before he might have gone, the truth, (as a Doctor pointed out), would have been Chiro on the Neck potentially killing him.

Until that point, he had not known what was wrong with him.

He did actually survive.

Dr. S · Guest

There is research available for those that care to investigate the topic of chiropractic and infertility. Please check The Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research Dec. 17, 2003, pp 1-4 "Infertility and Chiropractic Sacro Occipital Technique...". Also see the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation research, Dec. 2, 2003, pp. 1-7 Successful Pregnancy After Diagnosis of Infertility and Miscarriage: a Chiropractic Case Report". Nov. 2, 2003 pp.1-10, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, "Female Infertility and Chiropractic Wellness Care. Please also read Spine Journal, Feb 15, 2008, "Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic: Results of a Population Based Case-Controlled Case Cross-over Study". This journal article concludes that a stroke in progress is a stroke in progress and there is no causal relationship between chiropractic and stroke. In fact , no difference at all when compared to the risk of seeking medical care. Chiropractic is an extremely safe practice, substantiated by abundant research and unfortunately the target of uninformed personal opinion and uneducated judgement. There are plenty of articles out there regarding safety and chiropractic. The list goes on and on. Chiropractic is very well supported in todays research beyond the limited scope of treatment of low back pain. Chiropractic enhances the body's ability to self regulate and to self heal. The basic fundamentals of chiropractic practice are neurologically based. The anatomy of the nervous system is set up to enable communication from the brain to the body. If there is an inability for the communication to occur optimally in the female body there are often symptomatic sequelae. For some women that means abnormal menstrual cycles, ovulatory challenge and infertility. If a woman seeks chiropractic care, lets please get one thing straight......her nervous system function will improve with care. It is not the intent of the chiropractic profession to treat the symptoms of infertility, the intent is to restore proper nervous system function. Please make sure that you understand the distinction. If a woman gets pregnant while under chiropractic care, it is her very own nervous system that is responsible for the miracle of conception. Chiropractic is a means by which one can achieve a healthier and optimally communicating nervous system. It is my professional opinion, after 13 years in chiropractic practice, that if you have a nervous system you benefit from chiropractic care regardless of your age, symptomatology or lack there of . Chiropractic enhances the human experience. If you aren't under care, you aren't living your full potential. If you are trying to get pregnant, get adjusted.