From the April 9, 2012 issue of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, comes a documented case study of a woman who regained a normal menstrual cycle after years of irregular and painful cycles. Additionally she had not had a menstrual cycle for 3 months (known as secondary amenorrhea) prior to starting chiropractic care.
According to the study authors, “Secondary amenorrhea is defined as cessation of menses for a minimum of three months or more in women who have experienced previous menses.” They also note that secondary amenorrhea has a prevalence of approximately 3.3% in women of child-bearing age.
In this case, a 39-year-old woman went to a chiropractic college health center with primary complaints of severe lower and mid back pain, pain down the leg and headaches. Upon taking a history, it was discovered that for the past three months she also suffered from amenorrhea, which is defined as the absence of a menstrual cycle. Additionally, she had a long history of painful and irregular menstrual cycles.
A chiropractic examination was performed including range of motion, palpation, and spinal x-rays. The conclusion of the examination was that multiple vertebral subluxations were present in various areas of the woman’s spine. Vertebral subluxations are areas of the spine that are malpositioned causing interference to nerve system function.
Care was initiated in the form of specific chiropractic adjustments to correct the woman’s subluxations. After the first adjustment, the woman reported a decrease in back pain and a feeling of a “tingling in the spine”. After the second visit, she reported the onset of her menstrual cycle- the first in 3 months. Over the course of the next 8 months, the woman experienced 7 menstrual cycles.
According to the study authors, the woman also reported an improvement in her back pains, headaches, fewer anxiety attacks, asthma attacks, congestion, as well as improved sleep, and increased levels of energy.