In the upcoming book Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, co-authors Belinda and Larry Wurn explain how manual physical therapy can improve hormonal function, help women with advanced reproductive age, boost ovulation, treat poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, and lower FSH levels. In the chapter specifically devoted to hormonal issues, over ten women share their personal stories and experiences with Clear Passage Therapies (CPT).

Adhesions within the pelvis

One of these women is Sophia, who was unable to naturally ovulate prior to attending treatment at CPT. In fact, she had no menstrual cycle at all. Prior to trying to conceive, Sophia was on birth control. But when she went off, her menstrual cycle did not return.

She sought the help of her doctor, who prescribed Clomid ®, an oral medication designed to boost ovulation. But after three months, Sophia was still not ovulating. Her doctor suggested experimental medication, but Sophia was unhappy with this option.

Sophia researched different treatment options and found CPT. She decided to attend treatment on a weekly basis. When our therapists examined Sophia, they noted adhesion formation and restriction throughout her pelvis. They suspected adhesions were restricting the mobility of her ovaries and preventing ovulation and thus focused their efforts in this area.

Within the first month of treatment, Sophia became unexpectedly pregnant, but lost the pregnancy in a very early miscarriage. Although this was a difficult event for Sophia, our therapists were still optimistic. They knew it was likely that adhesions also constricted and pulled on her uterus, possibly causing Sophia’s early miscarriage.

After her second month of treatment, Sophia became pregnant naturally. She carried her baby to full-term and delivered a healthy baby boy. Sophia later told us, “I definitely attribute the treatment at CPT to the return of my ovulation and putting me in a positive frame of mind which ultimately enabled conception.”

If you would like to read more stories like Sophia’s or receive excerpts of Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, sign-up for our newsletter. To learn about our treatment for hormonal infertility or female hormonal dysfunction, please see our website.

Premature Ovarian Failure (POF), when a woman’s ovaries stop working before the age of 40, can be a life-changing diagnosis for any woman. Former plans of children can suddenly be cut short, in addition to a woman dealing with symptoms of menopause. Many women find themselves re-examining their lives or battling depression.

A study published by Fertility & Sterility (March 2007) examined the functional and spiritual well-being of women with POF (average age of 28). The study found a positive correlation between spiritual well-being and functional well-being. More specifically, they found that women who had higher levels of “meaning” or “inner peace” were more likely to function better in their lives. The study suggests that improving spiritual well-being may be an affective therapeutic approach to reducing “the emotional suffering that accompanies the life-altering diagnosis of POF.”

If you have been diagnosed with POF, you may find it beneficial to take some time to examine your personal life. Even if you do not prescribe to any religion or spiritual belief, you can still benefit from examining what gives you “meaning” in life and what brings you peace. Have patience with yourself, as answers to spiritually deep questions are not always easily unearthed. You may find assistance by becoming more active in your church, reading a book designed to help you discover your inner self, speaking with a psychologist, or taking time to meditate each day.

If you would like to learn more coping techniques for female infertility or treatment for premature ovarian failure, please visit our website.

Not all women experience the ideal circumstances to start a family when their “biological clock” is just right. Christine, a former CPT patient, was ready to have children in her early 30s, but as she told us, “Mr. Right was nowhere to be found.” When Christine entered her 40s, she knew she couldn’t wait any longer and immediately started IVF. Her first IVF ended as a chemical pregnancy and she looked for complementary therapies that could increase her chances of a successful second transfer.

She found our treatment and decided to attend. Our therapists designed a Pre-IVF treatment plan to heal and prepare her for her second IVF cycle. Christine told us, “As a previous marathon runner, I had seen plenty of physical therapists, but never with the level of attention and expertise that I received at CPT for my fertility.”

One week after treatment, Christine started her IVF cycle. She successfully became pregnant and later told us, “I had a great pregnancy. I hadn’t felt that good in a while.” At age 44, Christine gave birth to her healthy baby.

Christine’s full story will be featured in our upcoming book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, along with the stories of 75 other CPT patients. To learn more about our Pre-IVF treatment, please visit our Improving IVF Pregnancy Rates page.

A study released in December 2008 by Fertility and Sterility, evaluated the outcome of women undergoing an intrauterine insemination (IUI) with clomiphene citrate (CC). The study examined over 4,100 cycles and found that age drastically impacted pregnancy rates. They found a significant drop in success rates for women aged 41-42. However, the drop for women over age 42 was so sharp that the study concluded, “CC with IUI has virtually no place in the treatment (of infertile women over age 42).”

Every cycle counts for women with advanced reproductive age. This study can help women and their doctors to make better treatment options for each cycle.

The study also found that pregnancy rates dropped for women undergoing a 3rd through 9th IUI cycle. Women were more likely to become pregnant if it was their first or second IUI cycle.

When Jocelyn and her husband decided to have a second child, they never expected they would struggle to become pregnant. Four years earlier, they had become pregnant and given birth without any problems.

Jocelyn sought the help of her doctor, who performed a series of tests and found that her FSH was 14.2. Most reproductive endocrinologists recommend a FSH from 1-10 to conceive naturally. Her doctor referred her to a reproductive endocrinologist who confirmed that her FSH was too high and suggested she try IVF.

“I’m a naturalist,” Jocelyn told us. “I wasn’t excited with this option.” She decided to look for alternative treatments on her own and found CPT. She came to us for a week of treatment. One week after she returned home, Jocelyn became naturally pregnant and is now six months pregnant.

Jocelyn’s story is a testament to the importance of listening to your intuition and doing what you feel is right for you – whether that be conventional treatment or treatment with us. Her full story will be featured in our upcoming book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, along with the stories of 75 former CPT patients. Please visit our hormonal infertility page to learn more about our treatment for premature ovarian failure and hormonal infertility.

A study published in Fertility and Sterility recently found that ovarian dimensions are reliable predictors of ovarian reserve. Scientists found that the length, width, and diameter of an ovary can predict the production level and quality of eggs. To complete the study, doctors measured the ovaries and FSH levels of each participant. After adjusting for factors known to influence ovarian size (such as smoking, BMI, and a history of anovulation), they found that women whose ovaries had smaller dimensions also had decreased ovarian reserve. They found that ovarian width was the strongest predictor for ovarian reserve.

This information may partly explain why our treatment helps women with advanced ovarian age, hormonal dysfunction, and high FSH. At CPT, we focus on finding areas of the body that are restricted by adhesions. We frequently find that a woman’s ovaries are confined or restricted by adhesions that have formed over her lifetime. Through manual physical therapy techniques, our therapists gently deform and detach these adhesions, allowing the ovary to expand and return to its mobile state. Following the premise of the above study, the ovaries are then larger and function better, allowing an increase in ovarian reserve (and thus a decrease in FSH).

Please visit our hormonal dysfunction page to read more about our treatment for high FSH, hormonal dysfunction, and advanced reproductive age.

Quite a few women who came to CPT have told us that their abnormal menstrual cycle became “normal” in length after therapy. One patient told us, “After treatment ended, I felt better, with less pain in my uterus overall. I also noticed my cycles were stronger and healthier.” Another patient reported, “The most astounding result from my treatment was that my menstrual cycle returned!”

Both of these women were diagnosed infertile prior to treatment and then had healthy children afterward. Perhaps part of the reason these women and many others achieve pregnancy is that our treatment normalizes the menstrual cycle length, thus increasing female fertility.

A recent study in Fertility and Sterility (11/2008) found that menstrual cycle length correlates with pregnancy and delivery rates of women undergoing IVF. They also found that as a woman ages, there is a subtle shortening of her menstrual cycle length.

We hypothesize that we improve menstrual cycle length by addressing hormonal and mechanical factors. Throughout life, women go through many events (surgery, trauma, infections, etc.) that can cause adhesions to form within the body. Adhesions that restrict the pituitary-hypothalamus feedback loop can negatively affect hormones that trigger menstruation. Adhesions that form within the reproductive tract can impair menstruation by restricting the uterus and ovaries. When we break-apart, detach, and deform these adhesions during treatment, function and mobility are restored, often resulting in healthier menstrual cycles.

Numerous studies provide explanations for the recent surge in infertility. The majority of studies place the blame on women who wait until they are over age 35 to have a baby. These studies suggest that women are getting married later and waiting to have a baby until their careers are established.

Sylvia Ann Hewlett, who holds a PhD in economics, conducted a study for TIME magazine about advanced age and infertility. She told TIME, “Many women are embracing a ‘male model’ of single-mindedness career focus and the result is an epidemic ‘epidemic of childlessness.’”

Although many studies and women acknowledge this, why is the blame placed solely on the female? In healthy relationships, decisions are made together and that means women aren’t the only ones to blame for the decision to postpone parenthood.

Even if the decision to wait is solely the female’s, this choice is heavily influenced by societal pressures. Today, women have the opportunity to do whatever they want. But with that opportunity comes a lot of expectations. Women are expected to be perfect mothers and have stellar careers. With this pressure behind them, women often feel they cannot juggle both.

Playing the blame game will not solve infertility, but reevaluating how we view and speak about women with advanced age infertility can bring a healthy perspective. Women who are struggling with advanced age infertility have enough on their plates. They do not deserve the extra stress and guilt that society places on them for waiting to have children.

Want to read more about males and advanced age infertility? Visit http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/04/30/fertility/ to read an article that discusses how the male’s age affects women who are over 35 and trying to become pregnant.