fertility + chiropractic
More and more couples are having trouble conceiving, approximately 10% of the population. That number doesn’t seem high, but to those in that ten percent it feels extremely high.
Many people seek chiropractic care for neck pain or low back pain, and it’s a great alternative to naturally relieving those symptoms. Chiropractic is also great at improving overall health. But could chiropractic really help fertility?
Let’s go back to basic anatomy. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The nervous system controls everything in your body and without these two things, nothing works. The brain and spinal cord are protected by the skull and the spine. So it makes sense that if the spine isn’t functioning properly the nervous system won’t be either.
What we look for are called subluxations, or misalignments of the spine. When misalignments happen, they put stress or pressure on the nervous system leading to nervous system dysfunction causing muscle spasms, inflammation, pain or organ/organ system dysfunction. The stress on the nervous system due to misalignments of the spine is similar to stepping on a hose. You still have the information coming in and out, but it isn’t as good as it should be. Because the nerves come out between each bone of the spine, they go everywhere in the body, and are how the brain and the body communicate. For example, the nerves in the low back go to all organs and organ systems in the abdomen, which includes the reproductive system. As a chiropractor, I detect these misalignments causing stress on the body and correct them to allow the body to function properly. If you are interested in more research behind chiropractic and fertility, here is a great article.
But how do these misalignments happen? They are due to stress! I know what you’re thinking, who doesn’t have stress?! And you’re correct, everyone does. But the kind of stress your thinking and the kind that I’m referring to are different. When I say stress in relation to our health I am talking about physical (walking, sitting, falls/accidents etc.), chemical (diet, medications, not drinking enough water) and emotional. Conceiving a baby is considered a stress on the body and if that body is already under a state of distress or system overload, it will not take on additional stress in order to protect itself.
Along with chiropractic, we have an approach based on the fundamental essentials that are needed so your body can function at its most optimal level. We believe in giving your body the best chance for a successful pregnancy by focusing on your health first. And if you are healthier, your child will be healthier. It's a win-win! You can read more about our approach here.