Infertility and Chiropractic

This section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:   Frankp@chiro.org

Chiropractic Research Results for Infertility

	Resolution of Infertility in a Female Undergoing Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care: Case Report & Review of Literature Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2008:   Aug 6:   1–6 Examination protocols of Diversified Technique were utilized to detect and adjust vertebral subluxations for the first 2 ½ months of care and Toggle/Webster Technique protocols were used exclusively thereafter. Visits included thermography as an instrumentation procedure. The patient had her first natural menstrual cycle 3 ½ months into care and discovered she was pregnant 4 ½ months after initiation of chiropractic care. Ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy shortly after.
	Two Reports of Resolution of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-induced Anovulation in Females Receiving Neuro Emotional Technique Chiropractic Journal of Australia 2006 (Mar);   36 (1):   2–8 Anovulating patients started to ovulate following a series of treatments. Initial VAS scale on menstrual irregularity was rated 10 out of a possible 10 (anovulation) for both patients. After treatment, both patients rated 0 out of 10 on the VAS scale. A discussion of the potential link between stress and anovulation through decreased insulin sensitivity and how the use of Neuro Emotional Technique resolved the anovulation seen in two patients is presented.
	Making Adjustments: Infertility and the Chiropractic Link Parenting Media's Preconception.Com Website Recently, infertility specialists have been focusing on factors outside of the reproductive system in order to solve the puzzle of infertility. More and more centers for infertility are partnering with acupuncturists, yoga centers and other stress reduction or lifestyle maximization programs. This may be why a recent study published in the Journal of Vertical Subluxation Research (JVSR), a peer-reviewed scientific journal devoted to subluxation-based chiropractic research, is getting a lot of press – most of it very positive.
	Fighting Infertility At The Chiropractor A CBS 2 Special Report Feb 25, 2004 11:00 pm US/Eastern NEW YORK (CBS)   Infertility. If you haven't struggled with it yourself, chances are you know someone who wants to become pregnant but can't. Now, there's surprising new research that may crack the case and offer some couples new hope.
	Successful Pregnancy Following Diagnosis of Infertility And Miscarriage: A Chiropractic Case Report Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2003 (Dec 2):   1–7 A 27 year old female presented for chiropactic care to improve her overall health, in the hope that she may ultimately be able to have a child. In the previous year she had suffered 2 miscarriages, and had been anovulatory for 9 months. She was under medical treatment for infertility and ulcerative colitis, and followed a restrictive diet. Prior to attempting to become pregnant, she had been on the birth control pill for 7 years. After 60 days of care, a normal ovulatory cycle occurred, and she became pregnant after her second normal cycle.
	Female Infertility and Chiropractic Wellness Care: A Case Study on the Autonomic Nervous System Response While Under Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care and Subsequent Fertility Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2003 (Nov 2):   1–10 After receiving wellness chiropractic care for the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations, the practice member showed marked improvement in autonomic and motor system function as demonstrated on her sEMG and thermography scans. In additon, after having great difficulty conceiving, she became pregnant nine months after commencing chiropractic care. Further studies are needed to document the relationship between infertility, autonomic nervous system function, and the response to wellness chiropractic care, including subsequent fertility.
	Insult, Interference and Infertility: An Overview of Chiropractic Research Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2003 (May 2): The application of chiropractic care and subsequent successful outcomes on reproductive integrity, regardless of factors including age, history and medical intervention, are described through a diversity of chiropractic arts.
	Response to Gonstead Chiropractic Care in a 27 year old Athletic Female with a 5 year history of Infertility Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2003 (Nov 9):   1–3 One month after the application of chiropractic care, marked reduction in dysautonomia and dysponesis is demonstrated, and while previously infertile for 5 years this woman conceived and sustained a successful pregnancy. Further research is suggested examining the application of chiropractic care and associated restoration of function, including reproductive function.
	Sacro Occipital Technique Management of a Thirty Four Year Old Woman with Infertility Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2003 (Dec 17):   1–4 This patient made no other alterations in her lifestyle or clinical situation besides the addition of chiropractic care to afford the positive outcome of increased fertility. Correlation of clinical findings support the reduction of the patient’s subluxation complex and changed neurophysiological parameters. As infertility is a growing concern, and existing medical alternatives offer limited success and while involving a myriad of concerns for the patient, it is prudent to consider other less invasive and costly approaches for dealing with interference to fertility.
	The Resolution of Chronic Colitis with Chiropractic Care Leading to Increased Fertility J Vertebral Subluxation Research 2003 (Aug 31);   4 (4):   1–5 The patient had her chronic condition of colitis relieved and relatively simultaneously became pregnant after giving up on allopathic fertility treatments for 7 years.
	Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Women in New York City: A Pilot Study J Altern Complement Med 2001 (Dec);   7 (6):   659–666 More than half the sample has used a CAM treatment or remedy, and 40% have visited a CAM practitioner. Among users, half have used only one of the CAM categories, approximately one third have used two, and 16% used all three. The category of CAM used most often was medicinal tea/herbs/vitamins; the practitioners visited most frequently were chiropractors (18%) and nutritionists (17%). Racial and ethnic differences in CAM use were minimal, and approximately one third of all treatments used were rated "very effective" by users.
	Endometriosis and the Anterior Coccyx:   Observations on 5 cases Research Forum 1985 (Summer);   1 (4):   120–122 ~ FULL TEXT This case review involves five women presenting with medically-diagnosed endometriosis. All five women had been advised that they were surgical candidates. Relief of symptoms is effected by adjusting the anteriorally displaced coccyx. The author suggests a relationship between the displaced coccyx and endometriosis and counsels upon the recognition of same.
	Review More Abstracts on Chiropractic and Fertility Review abstracts about chiropractic and a variety of organic and visceral disorders at the wonderful International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) website

Other Management Approaches for Infertility

	Male Infertility: Nutritional and Environmental Considerations Alternative Medicine Review 2000 (Feb);   5 (1):   28–38 ~ FULL TEXT Studies confirm that male sperm counts are declining, and environmental factors, such as pesticides, exogenous estrogens, and heavy metals may negatively impact spermatogenesis. A number of nutritional therapies have been shown to improve sperm counts and sperm motility, including carnitine, arginine, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B-12. Numerous antioxidants have also proven beneficial in treating male infertility, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, and coenzyme Q10.
	Selenium Biochemistry and Cancer:   A Review of the Literature Alternative Medicine Review 2004 (Sep);   9 (3):   239–258 ~ FULL TEXT In recent years, the role of selenium in the prevention of a number of degenerative conditions including cancer, inflammatory diseases, thyroid function, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, aging, infertility, and infections, has been established by laboratory experiments, clinical trials, and epidemiological data.
	The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Clinical Medicine:   Part II Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, and Infertility Alternative Medicine Review 1996 (Sep);   1 (3):   168–175 ~ FULL TEXT This review discusses the role of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and infertility. Deficiencies of CoQ10 have been documented in patients with heart disease. Administration of CoQ10 has been shown to prolong survival and improve quality of life in patients with cardiomyopathy. In patients with congestive heart failure, CoQ10 ameliorated symptoms, reduced the number of hospitalizations and appeared to increase the survival rate. Treatment with CoQ10 may also reduce the number of anginal attacks in patients with stable angina pectoris. CoQ10 has been shown to prevent adriamycin cardiotoxicity and to reduce the incidence of postoperative cardiac dysfunction in patients undergoing heart surgery. Several studies indicate that CoQ10 may also have a role in the treatment of essential hypertension. This nutrient may be of value for patients with diabetes mellitus or male infertility, but additional studies are needed in these areas. CoQ10 status may be adversely affected by treatment with certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and phenothiazines.
	Infertility... The Most Powerful Acupuncture Points for Positive Response The acupuncture approach being described in this issue of The American Chiropractor has been responsible for hundreds, if not thousands, of pregnancies worldwide over a time frame of 16 years—when I first introduced this clinical protocol. These points have been utilized very effectively either on their own or in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, which have improved enormously the last several years. I am proud to say, they have become standard for infertility globally.

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Updated 2-19-2019