A case study published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health on October 22, 2012, documents the case of a woman who was unable to conceive, who became pregnant shortly after starting chiropractic care. The study also reviews additional documentation on other cases and studies regarding infertility and chiropractic.
According to the study author, “Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve a pregnancy within one year of regular unprotected intercourse.” Estimates are that nationwide infertility affects between 6 to 7.3 million women. The author also notes that infertility rises with age. Eleven percent of women ages 15-29 experience a one-year infertility period, and this number rises to 23 percent of women ages 35-39 who cannot become pregnant after a year.
In this case, a 29-year-old woman went to the chiropractor with the primary complaints of lower back pain and left leg pain radiating down to her foot. Her history also revealed that she was a former athlete. Her menstrual cycles were abnormal being 40-60 days in length. The woman was not on birth control and she and her husband had unsuccessfully been trying to have a child for eight years.
A chiropractic examination was performed which included a spinal analysis, thermographic studies, and x-rays. From the results of the examination, it was determined that the woman had multiple vertebral subluxations. A specific course of chiropractic adjusting was initiated for correction of the subluxations.
The results showed that after the first visit the woman’s back pain was significantly reduced and her ability to move was greatly improved. Care was continued and the woman continued to show progress with her initial pain issues.
It was noted that 4 weeks after her chiropractic care began, the woman tested positive with an early pregnancy test. She went to her obstetrician the following week, who confirmed that she had become pregnant.
The authors of this study also conducted a literature review for other studies of chiropractic helping women with fertility issues such as the one they had documented in this case. The search revealed 13 additional studies documenting cases of women between the ages of 22 and 37 who were infertile prior to beginning chiropractic care, and then became pregnant and had successful births due to receiving chiropractic.