A woman's fertility is affected by a number of factors: stress, nicotine, alcohol, poor diet, athletic training, weight, hormonal imbalances, sexually transmitted disease, or anatomical problems with the reproductive system. While there are a number of conventional treatments for fertility, some women may want to consider chiropractic care as a complement to their treatment. The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology does not have an official statement on chiropractic care as it relates to fertility, but there have been studies that suggest that it works.
About Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is based on the theory that subluxations, or misalignments, occur in the spine and thereby negatively affect the musculoskeletal and nervous systems' ability to function. In terms of fertility, a subluxation may affect a woman's ability to conceive. Chiropractors manually adjust these subluxations, bringing the spine back into proper alignment. They also counsel patients on nutrition, lifestyle and exercise, all of which can affect fertility.
About Fertility
Infertility is the inability to conceive after one year if under the age of 35, six months if over the age of 35. Approximately 10 percent of U.S. women struggle with fertility, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fertility is not just a woman's issue. The CDC advocates conventional treatment of "medicine, surgery, artificial insemination or assisted reproductive technology" for infertility and does not have an official statement on chiropractic care.
Research
A November 2003 "Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research" case study illustrates how a 31-year-old woman previously diagnosed as infertile was able to conceive after nine months of chiropractic treatment. A December 2003 "Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research" case study illustrates how a 34-year-old woman previously diagnosed as infertile was able to conceive after four to five weeks of chiropractic treatment without making any other lifestyle adjustments.
What Chiropractic Treatment Entails
Chiropractors usually see patients weekly in the beginning of treatment. Once they learn how their adjustments hold in a particular patient, visits usually decrease to approximately once per month. Many insurance plans cover chiropractic care, and, depending on duration, it is cheaper than conventional fertility treatment.
Warning
A woman considering chiropractic care as a complement to conventional fertility treatment should have a discussion with her doctor or midwife. She should examine the credentials of potential chiropractors very carefully. According to the American Pregnancy Association, chiropractors who specialize in fertility and pregnancy issues should have one or more of the following designations after their name: DACCP, CACCP, ICPA or Webster Certified.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Reproductive Health
- "Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research"; Female Infertility and Chiropractic Wellness Care; T. Kaminski, DC.; November 2003
- "Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research"; Sacro Occipital Technique Management of a Thirty Four Year Old Woman with Infertility; M. Rosen, DC; December 2003
- American Pregnancy Association: Infertility and Chiropractic Care
