Guest blog by Dr. Brent Wells, founder of Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in Alaska.
The idea of getting pregnant and having a baby is a natural thought that most people at least consider at some point in their lives. Traditionally, you find the love of your life, get married, and start a family. Some people follow their own timeline, and that works too. When you have no problems getting pregnant, you don’t consider what so many others suffer through… infertility. It can happen in both men and women, and it can be incredibly devastating.
You don’t know that you can’t get pregnant until you start trying. From the first time you think about having children, you assume that it’s just going to happen when the time is right. When it doesn’t go as planned, it can feel as though life is at a standstill.
Many couples will opt for medical procedures that include taking potentially dangerous medications and even going through surgery. With more people focusing on holistic approaches to medical conditions in recent times, chiropractic care and it’s ability to help with infertility issues is becoming more common. Find out about the benefits of fertility through this natural treatment option.
What is Infertility?
The definition of infertility is when a couple actively tries to conceive for one year or longer without success. Of course, there is no use of birth control used to ensure the best chances for contraception. When a couple does get pregnant without any medical assistance within two years, they are still considered to be normal when it comes to fertility.
The most common reasons for infertility are:
- Fallopian tube problems
- Ovulation dysfunction
- Hormonal problems
- Pelvic issues
It’s important to keep in mind that infertility isn’t only a female problem. Men can have the same issue for a variety of different reasons including:
- Varicocele
- Low sperm count
- Injuries
- Damages to the reproductive system
While some men and women decide to accept their diagnosis and move on without having babies, others don’t give up and seek out treatment to help them through the process.
Chiropractic Care for Infertility
The entire basis of chiropractic work is the relationship between the body’s structure and functioning. The primary focus of chiropractic doctors is the spinal cord. That is where the central operations for your body’s communications take place, mainly through the central nervous system that is located there.
If any part of the spinal cord is out of alignment, it can affect other parts of the body in a plethora of ways. Chiropractors have found that misaligned vertebrae can lead to:
- Pain
- Respiratory issues
- Digestive problems
- Circulation complications
- Reproductive troubles
Infertility falls under the category of reproductive troubles. All chiropractors are educated on how to treat women who are pregnant, but some get extra training on how to assist those with fertility issues. The best chiropractor near you knows that infertility is related to nervous system functioning, nutrition, lifestyle choices, and exercise patterns.
He or she will be able to provide you with the manipulations necessary to get your spine aligned and your nervous system at optimum functioning. They can also advise you in other areas including nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle to give you a reproductive system that is operating as it should.
How Chiropractors Provide Benefits for Fertility
The primary benefit of seeing a chiropractor for infertility is becoming fertile enough to conceive. One case study was performed to prove that it’s possible to use treatment from a chiropractor in conjunction with other medical assistance to achieve that.
The woman was 27 years old and suffered two miscarriages within a year. While obtaining treatments for infertility, she was also seeking care from a chiropractor. After just 60 days her menstrual cycle returned to normal, and she was pregnant. While one case study can’t prove beyond reasonable doubt that chiropractic care is the reason for her fertility, it points in that direction.
Further Research on the Benefits to Chiropractic Care for Infertility
A doctor named Dr. Madeline Behrendt went further into her own case studies and published them in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. She followed 15 women who were diagnosed infertile. Nine of the women had prior assisted treatments that didn’t work. They were taking part in those treatments along with getting chiropractic care.
Vertebral subluxations, or misalignments in the spinal column, were found in all of the women. Through their visits to their chiropractors, those subluxations were treated and reduced or eliminated over the course of anywhere from one to 20 months. By the end of the study, each woman conceived and had a healthy baby.
Most chiropractors will say that there is still more research that needs to be done on the relationship between the treatment they give and the fertility benefits. However, this case study is one that proves that it can be an practical option.
Going to a chiropractor is a viable option for most couples because it is affordable and readily available. Some insurance companies may even cover your visits. If you are struggling with infertility, it is one method that you can try without having to worry about the side effects and costs that medical options come with.
Seeing a Chiropractor Before IVF
The point of seeing a chiropractor is to create an overall health and wellness from the inside out. While it can’t necessarily cure infertility, it can help in alleviating some of the symptoms that cause it. Stress is a significant factor when it comes to the inability to get pregnant. Thinking about the whos, whats, and whys of not being able to conceive can cause a person to be overwhelmed enough to prevent their reproductive system from working properly.
In addition, the pelvis could be twisted in such a way that fertilization can’t take place at all or the body can’t provide a stable environment for the growth of the fetus, resulting in a miscarriage. Problems with the operations of the fallopian tubes have even been eliminated from proper chiropractic adjustments as well.
Before going through IVF treatments, it’s an excellent idea to first see a chiropractor for some time. He or she will be able to get your body functioning at its fullest potential. When everything is in proper working order, you are going to be more likely to see successful results of what can be a costly treatment to get pregnant.
Dr. Brent Wells is a graduate of the University of Nevada where he earned his bachelor’s of science degree before moving on to complete his doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College. He founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in Alaska in 1998.
He became passionate about being in the chiropractic field after his own experiences with hurried, unprofessional healthcare providers. The goal for Dr. Wells is to treat his patients with care and compassion while providing them with a better quality of life through his professional treatment.
Works Cited
(2003). Retrieved August 29, 2018, from Vertebral Subluxation Research: https://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/vertebral-subluxation-research-1/
Bedell, D. L. (2003, December 2003). Successful Pregnancy Following Diagnosis of Infertility. Retrieved August 29, 2018, from https://www.torquerelease.com/pdf/005.pdf
Chiropractic: In Depth. (2012, February). Retrieved August 29, 2018, from National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/introduction.htm
Infertility. (2018, May 22). Retrieved August 29, 2018, from Office On Women’s Health: https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/infertility
Male Factor Infertility and Sexual Health. (n.d.). Retrieved August 29, 2018, from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health: https://www.uwhealth.org/urology/male-infertility/erectile-dysfunction/11267
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