By Jackie

Many women who experience intercourse pain believe the pain is something they just have to live with or tolerate. They manage the pain by having sex sparingly or avoiding sex at times when it might be particularly painful (such as during ovulation or the week before).

However, if a woman is trying to conceive, she cannot avoid sex or only have sex when it feels best for her. Emily, a former CPT patient, struggled with just this problem. When she and her husband married, she was disappointed to find that sex was extremely painful. She told us that the pain “was almost unbearable.” Emily and her husband seldom had sex due to the pain, but when they decided to have children, she had to endure the pain. Emily told us, “We tried to have sex more often, and the stress of trying to push past the pain was making my menstrual cycles irregular.”

Adhesions at the cervix can cause painful intercourse and infertility

Painful intercourse is not normal. In fact, pain with intercourse is a clue that there might be something else wrong. CPT has treated many women who experienced infertility and a large majority of them experienced painful intercourse as well. We feel that painful intercourse is a sign that adhesions have formed in the reproductive tract, possibly adhering, restricting, and preventing proper function and fertility.

When Emily came to us for help, CPT therapists delicately and sensitively treated adhesions in her reproductive tract. Emily stated, “I felt very comfortable at CPT and in control of the treatment. At times, it was uncomfortable because they were treating a very pain-sensitive area, but I could tell the difference as the pain decreased with each session.”

Emily and her husband were eventually able to resume regular intercourse. Emily reported, “Before treatment my husband had never been able to enter me fully, and finally he was able to!” Emily’s menstrual cycle also returned to a regular cycle and she is currently expecting.

Emily’s full story, along with stories by over 75 patients, will be featured in our upcoming book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain. To read more about the connection between painful intercourse and fertility, read our blog post: Infertility and Sexual Dysfunction are Linked – And It’s Not All in Your Head
Please visit our website to learn more about our treatment for painful intercourse and female infertility.

By Jackie

Madison never thought she wouldn’t be able to conceive. “I was shocked when I could not become pregnant,” she reported.

After a year of trying naturally, Madison and her husband sought the help of their doctor. Madison had an HSG to see if her fallopian tubes were functional. The results showed everything was fine. Madison then consulted with another doctor, who suspected she might have endometriosis. She underwent laparoscopic surgery and sure enough, the physician found severe endometriosis encasing the majority of her reproductive system.

Endometriosis on the outside of the uterus

Unfortunately, Madison and her husband were still unable to become pregnant after the surgery. They tried Clomid, but had no success after six months.

Madison decided it was time to consult with another specialist. He suggested they try intrauterine inseminations (IUI) with hormonal shots. But three IUIs later, they still hadn’t conceived. Their specialist suspected that Madison’s endometriosis had re-grown, so Madison agreed to a second surgery.

Once again, Madison and her husband couldn’t become pregnant after surgery. On the advice of their specialist, they decided it was time to move on to IVF. There were no complications with the retrieval of eggs or the transfer of the embryos, but there was still no pregnancy. Three months later, Madison and her husband tried IVF again. They were devastated by another unsuccessful transfer.

Despite the hardships they had experienced, Madison and her husband were determined to not give-up. They scheduled a third IVF transfer.

Before their transfer, Madison learned of Clear Passage Therapies (CPT). After reading over the treatment, they felt it could make their 3rd transfer successful. Madison attended an intensive week of therapy one month before her transfer. She told us, “After treatment, my body felt looser and healthier. When I returned home, my husband and I were elated to find there was no longer any pain with sex. My husband joked that he would send me back for more treatment in a heartbeat. Another amazing outcome was that I no longer experienced pain from my endometriosis.”

The next month, Madison completed her 3rd IVF transfer and was finally pregnant! She carried the baby to full-term and delivered a healthy baby girl.

Five months after her birth they got a surprise – Madison was naturally pregnant! She told us, “After struggling with infertility for so long, my husband and I never considered using any form of birth control. It was then I knew CPT had healed and restored proper function to my body.”

Madison’s full story, told in her own words, will be featured in our upcoming book Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain. To learn more about our treatment for endometriosis or female infertility, please visit our website.

By Jackie

With economic experts and the U.S. government warning that the economic recession will likely worsen, you may wonder if you can afford infertility treatments. But just because we, as Americans, are collectively rethinking the way we spend money and live our lives, does not mean we have to give-up on our dreams. The desire to have a child is unlike any other and many women dream of being pregnant, giving birth, and raising a biological child.

If infertility comes between you and that dream, you may wonder how much you are willing to do or spend to achieve your dream during this hard economic time. Instead of worrying about affording infertility treatments, you may benefit from a change in perspective. Due to pay cuts and decreased job benefits, many Americans are changing their perspective on how their lifestyle. Many have realized that a natural, holistic, and frugal perspective not only benefits their bank accounts, but leads to a better, healthier, and happier life. Some Americans have made shifts by riding their bikes to work, while others prepare meals at home with their families instead of eating-out.

This shift in perspective can also be applied to your fertility. Instead of thinking of female infertility as a “broken reproductive system,” think of your fertility in a holistic matter. The body is an incredible, inter-connected organism. Your daily lifestyle choices such as the food you eat, the amount of exercise you get, and your level of stress greatly impact your general health – and therefore your fertility. Even injuries in another part of your body can impact your fertility (see Could your Unexplained Infertility Be Due to a Car Accident?).

When making decisions about infertility treatments, try to approach your options from a holistic viewpoint. Look for treatment options that address the entire body. You can also greatly improve your fertility without having to pay a dime. By simply going outside for a walk or cutting down on the amount of calories you eat, you increase your chances of conception.

When your decisions and treatment choices are based on your overall health and what is best for your body, every cent you spend will be worth it. To learn more about positive changes you can make now to improve your chances of conception, read Smart Choices Now Contribute to Your Future Health.

By Jackie

Two important studies discussing infertility treatments and ovarian cancer received national attention this week. These two studies provide both good news and bad news for women undergoing infertility treatments. Whether the news is good or bad for you depends on the type of infertility treatment you are undergoing.

The first study is one I shared earlier in the blog post: First Phase of Study Shows No Link Between Ovarian Cancer and Infertility Drugs. As the title suggests, researchers found that there was no correlation between ovarian cancer and gonadotrophins, clomifene citrate, human chorionic gonadotrophin, and gonadotrophin. These medications are specifically designed to help a woman produce one follicle per menstrual cycle. The most commonly used and recognizable commercial drug from this group is Clomid.

Retrievel of eggs after ovarian stimulation. Photo courtesy of www.ivfq.com.au

The second study* examined the role of medication used in the IVF process. It is imperative to understand that the medication used with IVF is entirely different from Clomid. The purpose of the medication used with IVF is to cause multiple follicles to develop within one menstrual cycle – known as ovarian stimulation.

The study found that women who underwent ovarian stimulation had a 50% increase in the risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, this 50% only increased the risk from .5% to 1%. The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Burger, posed a question for doctors, “So, what do you tell the IVF patient who comes to your office and asks whether her risk of ovarian cancer is increased? Well, you can tell her the risk after IVF is slightly increased, but it is still increased.”

What are some possible reasons to explain why ovarian stimulation increases the risk of ovarian cancer, while drugs like Clomid do not? First, the more ovulations you have, the more likely you are to get ovarian cancer. This is why women who were pregnant, used birth control pills, or breast-fed their children have a decreased risk of ovarian cancer. Ovarian stimulation also damages the ovaries more, as compared to a single ovulation.

A third possible explanation is that participants in the first study were not followed long enough to assess the long-term affects of drugs like Clomid. The average age of participants at follow-up was 47, even though ovarian cancer is most common at age 60 and above. Researchers said they will continue to follow these women as they age, which may change their conclusions.

I share these studies with you not to generate fear, but because it is imperative for all women to know the risks and benefits of any treatment option before a decision is made. Knowing your risk for ovarian cancer can be a critical deciding factor if you have other risk factors for ovarian cancer, such as a family member with ovarian cancer. To read about the other risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer, visit www.ovariancancer.org

*Burger C, et al “The risk of borderline and invasive ovarian tumors after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization in a large Dutch cohort after 15 years of follow-up” SGO 2009; 112(Suppl 1): Abstract 6.

By Jackie

Physicians and patients alike have long wondered if infertility drugs could lead to an increased risk of cancer. Ovarian cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women, has been linked to ovulation and pregnancy. Women who have had more children or ovulated less in their lifetimes (due to oral contraceptives, pregnancy, or breast feeding) have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. The association between ovarian cancer and ovulation lead many researches to question whether drugs like Clomid ® that increase ovulation could lead to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

A comprehensive study published by BMJ Online followed 54,362 Danish women who used gonadotrophins, clomifene citrate, human chorionic gonadotrophin, and gonadotrophin releasing hormone to improve their fertility. The study concluded that there was no link between these infertility medications and ovarian cancer. Even women who had undergone 10 or more treatment cycles or never became pregnant did not have an increased risk.

Although this study brings extremely good news for women, the results should not be considered final. The participants were followed for 16 years and the average age of participants at the time of follow-up was 47. However, women are most likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their early 60’s. Researchers acknowledge the age gap and state that they will continue to follow-up with the participants to see if any correlation arises as the women age. The researchers are also quick to point out that, “Some women who take fertility drugs will inevitably develop ovarian cancer by chance alone.”

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal cancers because women and their doctors often fail to recognize the symptoms until the cancer is at an advanced stage. Regardless of whether you underwent infertility treatments or not, you should be familiar with the symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

To learn more about ovarian cancer or its symptoms, please visit: www.ovariancancer.org

By Jackie

It’s no secret that infertility treatments and their associated appointments, tests, and follow-up meetings can carve a large chunk of time out of your weekly schedule. To make matters worse, appointments are normally scheduled during work hours. With today’s hard economic times, the last thing you want is your boss taking note of how often you need to slip out of the office. Because of the frequency of appointments, many employers expect an explanation when you have to leave the office so frequently.

For that reason, some women choose to disclose that they are undergoing infertility treatments. Women often find that the “open air” and honesty about the topic prevents them from feeling like they have to “sneak out” or make-up another excuse to leave.

But many other women feel that infertility is a private matter and do not want to discuss their personal medical information with their employers. Some women also do not like to disclose this information because of the unfair stereotypes associated with infertility. They fear they will be thought of as another hard-working woman who chose career over family and is finally paying for it.

A recent study published in Fertility and Sterility compared the stress levels of women who chose to disclose their infertility treatments to their employers to women who chose to keep their treatments private. The study found that there was no significant difference in stress for women chose to disclose or not disclose.

The study results affirm that the best choice depends on your unique situation. Ask yourself if you are carrying extra stress because you are not telling your employer why you need to leave. Is your employer concerned or noticing that you are leaving work frequently? Also consider how your employer might react to the information you disclose. You should also contemplate how private you want your health information to be.

By Jackie

We all know that trans fatty acids are unhealthy. Trans fatty acids result from the process of hydrogenation. Food manufacturers originally thought that using vegetable oils in their products would be healthier than saturated fats. However, vegetable oils can go bad quickly, so food makers began “hydrogenating” their processed food to prolong the shelf life. Unfortunately, the result of that process is trans fatty acids. Any processed foods that list partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils or shortening contain trans fat. Trans fat negatively affect health by increasing bad cholesterol, decreasing good cholesterol, increasing risk of type 2 diabetes, and much more.

A new study released in 2008 by Fertility and Sterility suggests another item should be added to the list of negatives: miscarriage. Researches followed 104 women over 20-30 years. They found that women with the lowest levels of trans fat in their diets had a fetal loss rate of 30%. This number spiked to 52% for women with the highest intake of trans fat in their diets. Most importantly, the scientists found trans fat to be an independent cause – meaning they ruled out age, race, body mass index, physical activity, total calories, and many other variables.

If you are currently trying to get pregnant or undergoing infertility treatments, cutting out trans fat is a step in the right direction. Not only will it decrease your risk of miscarriage, it will improve your overall health. To learn more about how you can decrease your chances of a miscarriage, visit our female infertility page.

By Jackie

In our upcoming book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, we share over 75 stories of patients who came to Clear Passage Therapies (CPT) for help with chronic pain, female infertility, and female sexual dysfunction. An entire chapter in the book is devoted to endometriosis-related infertility. Over eight patient stories are included in this incredible chapter that explains how endometriosis and adhesions can cause infertility and what you can do about it.

One former patient featured in this chapter is Michaeleena, who struggled with infertility for four years. Michaeleena and her husband tried to become pregnant on their own for two years, but then decided to seek the help of a doctor. All the tests appeared normal for Michaeleena, so they started IUI treatments with Clomid®. After the fourth failed IUI cycle, she underwent diagnostic laparoscopic surgery and learned she had endometriosis. Her doctor told her that her left ovary and fallopian tube were covered by endometrial implants and her tube was completely blocked. To make matters worse, her right tube was barely open.

Michaeleena and her husband tried to get pregnant for a few months following surgery and then decided to try another IUI. When it didn’t work, Michaeleena felt distraught. Her doctors pushed her to have an IVF transfer because her FSH levels were high and she was “old” – age 38.

About this time, Michaeleena learned of CPT from a friend. After speaking with many massage therapists and physical therapists, she decided to attend an intensive week program. After treatment, Michaeleena was doubtful it would work, but told us, “I took Clomid just in case it did work.” To her surprise, she became pregnant the month after treatment. Her healthy son was born nine months later.

To learn more about our treatment, endometriosis and female infertility page. CPT also has years of experience treating endometriosis pain and discomfort. In our upcoming book, we also devote an entire chapter to endometriosis pain, its causes, and how physical therapy can help. To read current patient feedback about our therapy for endometriosis pain, please see our endometriosis patients speak page.

By Jackie

Women who experience infertility are commonly scheduled for a hysterosalpinogram (HSG) to see if their fallopian tubes are open and functioning properly. What many women don’t know is that the procedure itself can help a woman become pregnant.

A mucous plug blocking the fallopian tube

Sometimes, a fallopian tube fills with a small amount of mucous. This mucous can form after infections, inflammation, or similar events. If the mucous forms together in one spot, it can block the tube (a mucous plug) and prevent an egg and sperm from meeting.

During an HSG, a thin catheter is inserted through the cervix and into the uterus, where radioactive dye is injected into the fallopian tubes. The force of the dye can push any existing mucous out of the tube. If the mucous was completing blocking the tube before, the woman is now able to become pregnant.

HSG Procedure

A mucous plug should not be confused with hydrosalpinx or tubal occlusion. Hydrosalpinx occurs when the tube fills with toxic fluid and remains trapped, despite an HSG. A tubal occlusion occurs when a tube is completely blocked, usually due to adhesions.

At CPT, we treat both hydrosalpinx and blocked fallopian tubes. We frequently recommend that our patients with blocked fallopian tubes or hydrosalpinx schedule a follow-up HSG after treatment with us. The HSG not only allows women to visualize the effects of treatment, but it may also push-out any remaining mucous in the tube after treatment.

To learn more about our treatment for these conditions, please visit our hydrosalpinx page and blocked fallopian tube page.

By Jackie

Maintaining a sexually satisfying relationship can be difficult for couples struggling with infertility.  Judith C. Daniluk, author of an article entitled, “Keeping Your Sex Life Alive While Coping with Infertility” explains that, “Infertility affects a person’s feelings about themselves – their masculinity or femininity, their self worth, their self esteem, their body.”

Many women experience a deterioration of sexual satisfaction during infertility treatments, often related to feelings of disappointment, guilt, or low self esteem. These feelings can decrease a woman’s sexual desire, arousal, ability to lubricate, and overall satisfaction.

A study published by Fertility and Sterility (October 2007) found that women experience greater levels of anxiety and sexual stress due to infertility than men. For some women, infertility treatments directly decrease desire and arousal because of altered hormonal levels.

Although these articles and studies show that decreased sexual satisfaction can be related to emotional and mental health, it is imperative that women know sexual dysfunction or painful intercourse is not always, “all in your head.”

At CPT, we often find that female infertility and sexual dysfunction are physically linked. Frequently, a woman will experience a common event such as a car accident, vaginal infection, STD, sexual abuse, or surgery that causes adhesions to form within the reproductive tract. These adhesions can lead to infertility by restricting or pulling the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and vagina. Although some women may not initially experience any pain or sexual dysfunction at the time, the continued pulling and restriction can cause more adhesions to form, eventually resulting in painful intercourse and sexual dysfunction six to twelve months later. Because of the delayed onset, women often do not see the connection between their infertility and sexual dysfunction.

CPT therapists see sexual dysfunction as a clue to discover the cause of a woman’s infertility. We often ask patients, “When did your sexual dysfunction begin? How often does it occur? Are you experiencing trouble with arousal, desire, satisfaction, orgasm, pain, or lubrication? In what sexual positions does sex hurt? Where exactly does it hurt and what does it feel like?”

The answers to these questions shape our individualized treatment for each woman. Many women find that when we resolve the cause of their infertility, we also resolve the cause of their sexual dysfunction and pain.

To learn more about our treatment, please visit our sexual dysfunction page, painful intercourse page, or female infertility page.