Archive for Advanced Reproductive Age

Successful IVF at Age 43

By Jackie

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.

Study Warns Clomid and IUI May be Ineffective for Women with Advanced Reproductive Age

By Jackie

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.

“Naturalist” Finds Success after Hormonal Infertility

By Jackie

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.

Study Finds Ovarian Dimensions are Reliable Predictors of Ovarian Reserve

By Jackie

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.

Menstrual Cycle Length and Fertility

By Jackie

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.