New Research on Infertility

Research News Staff
New Research on Infertility

Chiropractic May Play Important Role 

Recent research reporting on two women who were previously diagnosed as infertile but conceived following the introduction of chiropractic care reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in caring for families with infertility challenges. The research, reported in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health - Chiropractic, includes a review of the literature supporting the role of chiropractic in women experiencing infertility.

CLICK HERE to review the study

“Research is revealing that there is a relationship between abnormalities in the spine, the nervous system and the reproductive system” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study. “There are now at least a couple of dozen research studies previously published that show successful conceptions and the delivery of healthy children following the introduction of chiropractic care and the addition of these two add further weight to the evidence.” 

“It makes perfect sense when you think about it” stated Dr. McCoy. “As chiropractors we know that obstruction of spinal nerves lead to all sorts of dysfunction and this is certainly true with reproductive function. Of all the various non-musculoskeletal conditions amenable to chiropractic, anecdotes and testimonials abound on the positive effects of chiropractic care in patients with infertility.” 

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after at least 1 year of unprotected intercourse and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that there were 7.3 million infertile women in the U.S. in 2002 with 1.2 million women having had an infertility-related medical appointment. These data also indicate that from 30 years of age and on, rates of infertility increase. There are many reasons for both male and female infertility, including problems with egg production, anatomic, immune and hormonal factors for the female and sperm count for the male. 

“Considering the fact that every single function of the body is controlled by the nervous system it should not surprise anyone that removing obstructions to the neurology that controls reproductive function would lead to alleviation of some of the problems related to infertility” remarked Dr. McCoy. “What is surprising is that more research funding has not been provided to study these effects in larger populations of women.” 

The patients reported on in the study were both young females with a history of infertility who sought chiropractic care and also underwent in-viro fertilization after they began chiropractic. They reported prior miscarriages, trauma and stress. The examinations revealed that both had postural distortions along with structural shifts in their spines. Structural shifts in the spine can develop and this can lead to obstruction of the nerves. It is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct. Following several months of chiropractic care both patients conceived and delivered healthy babies.   

The authors called for further research to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost related to chiropractic care and infertility. 

Contact Information: 

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH

Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research

http://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com

drmatthewmccoy@gmail.com

McCoy Press