Chiropractic Care and Infertility

Chiropractic medicine works under the assumption that the body knows how to heal itself. Rather than using drugs to manage pain, chiropractic doctors help to give the nervous system in the body clear paths for healing. All Chiropractic doctors focus on the twenty-four bones in the spine, each connected to nerves that affect various body functions. One of the primary functions of chiropractic care is to straighten the spine so that those nerves can to their job properly.

You may think of a chiropractor as a bone cruncher. Chiropractors help to align the spine properly by fixing what are called "subluxations"-misalignments of the spine. In other words, they straighten you out so your nerves can keep your body functions running smoothly. Chiropractors "adjust" your spine in much the same way that a mechanic gives your car a tune-up-it keeps your body running smoothly. Without regular adjustments, the body begins to spiral into a state of disrepair.

Some of the nerves that run from the spine into the body affect your reproductive system. There are certain actions in the body that are controlled by the nervous system-such as the dropping of the eggs from the ovaries through the fallopian tube. If the nerves are out of alignment because the spine is out of alignment, the nerves cannot do their job-and infertility can result.

A recent study of fifteen cases of chiropractic care and infertility by Dr. Madeline Behrendt has caused quite a stir in the chiropractic and medical field. In a study published in the May 2003 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, Dr. Behrendt found that fourteen out of fifteen women who were infertile became pregnant after two to twenty months of chiropractic care. One of the women was told by fertility experts that she had only a 5% chance of conceiving even with fertility drugs and invasive procedures. She had had no periods for twelve years. After two months of chiropractic care, her periods returned. Four months later, she was pregnant. Nine months later, she delivered a healthy seven pound son. Her medical doctor said it was "impossible" that she was pregnant. Obviously, her pregnancy was not "impossible," and Chiropracti doctors argue that the proper functioning of the nerves related to reproductive care make all the difference in treating infertility.

In the study of the fifteen patients, only one woman did not become pregnant-she was 65 years old and did not want to become pregnant. The other fourteen had been through various fertility treatments that failed, but chiropractic made a difference. These studies concerning infertility and chiropractic care are so new that even chiropractic doctors aren't sure why chiropractic seems to work so well-they're doing more research and studies to understand the relationship between chiropractic adjustments, subluxations, and the nervous system.

Chiropractic care is one important, natural option for helping you to conceive. To find a chiropractor near you, go to the International Chiropractor's Association website.

When you find a chiropractor, be certain to ask the following questions:

1. Are you familiar with Dr. Madeline Behrendt's work on combating infertility using chiropractic methods?

2. Have you ever helped a couple battling infertility before?

3. If so, could you give me the names of two patients as references or show me testimonials from patients you've helped?

You want to make sure to find the right practitioner who understands how to use chiropractic to help you conceive. Chiropractic is useful for overall health as well, though-it can help to make you healthier and in balance, and, hopefully, pregnant!