Did you know manual osteopathy can support fertility health? While artificial insemination, also known as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro insemination (IVF) are well-known options, osteopathy offers a natural approach that could improve the chances of conception both with and without these options. Emerging studies suggest that manual osteopathic treatment can be beneficial for fertility, particularly for individuals facing challenges like blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (Rice et al., 2015; Kirchmayr, 2006; Mohr).
For both women and men, osteopathy may enhance fertility when physical factors are contributing to the issue, making it a valuable natural option to consider.
How can osteopathy help women's fertility?
The focus of osteopathic treatment for fertility is to restore normal alignment, mobility, blood flow and nerve supply to the uterus and ovaries, as well as releasing any important tensions found around the hypothalamus and pituitary gland which control hormonal function.
The treatment you receive could be aimed at the following structures in your abdomen to help with natural conception.
- Releasing utero-sacral ligaments around your uterus that could be impeding the nerves of the hypogastric plexus that are important for the uterus to function well.
- Making sure that your uterus is properly aligned in your body and can move freely in its normal range.
- Releasing any tension around your fallopian tubes and ovaries.
- Treating any tension in the rest of your digestive and abdominal organs as these may be influencing the mobility of the reproductive organs.
- Making sure that your pelvis and lower back are aligned and can move freely so that nerve supply to your organs is uninterrupted. This includes treating the sacro-iliac joints, iliac bones, sacrum bone, and thoracic and lumbar spine.
- Releasing tension in the broad ligaments supporting your uterus as these contain the veins and arteries supplying blood flow to your uterus.
- Releasing any important tensions in the bones and soft tissues of your head bones as these can impede the proper functioning of your hormonal system by affecting the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
Note that all treatments are done from outside the body. There are no internal invasive procedures.
How does osteopathy assist men’s fertility?
Treatments can also be helpful to improve fertility in men without IVF or as a precursor if you are going to be using IVF. Treatment in men is focused on ensuring proper mobility, blood flow and nerve supply to the prostate and pelvic area. We can do this by treating any tension in your digestive and abdominal organs as these may be influencing the mobility of the reproductive organs. We will also ensure that your pelvis and lower back are aligned and can move freely so that nerve supply to your pelvic organs is uninterrupted. This includes treating the sacro-iliac joints, iliac bones, sacrum bone, and thoracic and lumbar spine like we do for women.
Try a manual osteopathy treatment at Rooted Family Wellness Centre!
While manual osteopathic treatments may not benefit everyone in their fertility journey, many case studies highlight their effectiveness for a wide range of individuals. Given that osteopathy is a gentle, non-invasive approach, an assessment could help identify and address any excessive tensions or mobility issues that might be impacting your fertility. This typically involves one to five treatment sessions. Our treatments are also covered under most private insurance plans. .
So if you are looking for a natural way to improve your fertility and chances at natural conception, give osteopathy a try! You can book with us now!.
References:
The Benefits of Osteopathy as a Treatment Option for Infertility in Women, Lisa Mohr. https://nationalacademyofosteopathy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Osteopathy-and-Infertility.pdf
A Woman With The Problem Of Infertility Receiving Osteopathic Treatment Has An Increased Chance Of Becoming Pregnant. Monika Kirchmayr, 2006. https://www.osteopathic-research.org/files/original/a44451f47dadabcac4c2c1f9d50667769d69cf3c.pdf
Rice, A., Patterson, K., Wakefield, L., Reed, E., Breder, K., & Wurn, B. et al. (2015). Ten-year Retrospective Study on the Efficacy of a Manual Physical Therapy to Treat Female Infertility. - PubMed - NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25691329
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