3 Minutes….3 Minutes that feel like an eternity. Those 3 minutes can change the trajectory of your life.
Am I Pregnant?
Sadly, the heartache and emotional turmoil of infertility affect more and more couples every year.
With the increase of couples that suffer from infertility, so does the number of interventions being offered by various healthcare industries.
For most, they are unaware of any other options other than the conventional route and consequently have a treatment program that consists of drugs and surgery. But, with a society that is shifting it's from focusing from pain and drugs to health and wellness, there are countless people who are searching for a holistic, natural approach for the treatment of infertility.
So….what kind of solution can chiropractic offer?
To be honest, few women actually seek out a chiropractor to help with fertility issues. In most cases, women seek out chiropractic care for other issues such as back pain and fertility issues are often a side note if they are brought up at all.
What Causes Infertility?
Infertility is defined as a couple’s inability to become pregnant after 1 year of intercourse without using contraception. However, it should be noted that “normal fertility” is defined as the ability to naturally conceive within 2 years time. Statistics suggest that the infertility culprit is a combination of damage to the fallopian tubes, ovulation dysfunction, hormonal changes or imbalances and nervous system dysfunction.
Conventional methods typically include medication to stimulate the ovaries, surgery to remove cysts or scar tissue and in some cases, in vitro fertilization (IVF). Mind you, IVF can cost upwards of 20,000 dollars!
Nerve System Dysfunction and Infertility?
In many instances, issues with fertility stem from improper nervous system function, inadequate nutrition, high stress and poor lifestyle choices. Many women and doctors underestimate the importance of an optimal nervous system when it comes to fertility. What many fail to recognize is that your reproductive organs are not under conscious control but instead is directed by your autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is a branch of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS is ultimately controlled and coordinated by the central nervous system (CNS) which is made up of your brain & spinal cord.
In order to conceive, a women’s egg must travel from the ovary through the fallopian tube to meet up with the sperm for fertilization. To achieve this process, a smooth rhythmical muscular action must occur – peristalsis. This smooth muscle activity that propels the egg is controlled by the signal relayed between the CNS and the PNS.
Sometimes when the spine shifts it can interfere with the nerve communication between the PNS and the CNS. These shifts can occur because of scoliosis, stress, accidents and/or poor posture.
Due to this improper nerve flow, it can result in decreased peristaltic activity preventing the egg from reaching its destination. This can result in an inability to conceive or, in some cases, endometriosis. Chiropractors focusing on NeuroStructural Correction specialize in locating spinal shifts and removing the nerve interference with specific corrections which permit the body to heal and function the way it was designed to.
A study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research looked at the effectiveness of chiropractic for infertility. It followed 15 women who ranged in age from 22 to 65 with a history of infertility. 14 of the 15 subjects were able to conceive within 2 to 20 months of receiving chiropractic care. The 65-year-old was not able to get pregnant, but after a lifetime without a menstrual period, her cycle appeared 4 weeks after beginning chiropractic care. While not conclusive, the results of this study are compelling for further research.
To be clear, chiropractic care is not a cure or a treatment for infertility. Chiropractic simply restores and optimizes the body’s function. I implore that all women, before considering medical intervention, try to create an environment that is conducive to allow conception which includes optimal nervous system function, nutrition, stress management and lifestyle habits.
