Women who take the most common fertility drugs, progesterone and clomiphene, are at a greater risk to develop thyroid cancer than those who don’t, according to a study by the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society.

The 36-year study, which tracked thousands of women, discovered that women who took fertility drugs developed thyroid cancer at an increased rate over those who did not. Compounded with the previously documented risks of multiple births and other complications, many couples have begun seeking natural alternatives to the use of fertility drugs.

Belinda Wurn, PT, Clinical Director

“Some new drug-free programs avoid these risks,” said physical therapist Belinda Wurn, who developed a natural fertility treatment with her therapist husband. The treatment, a unique manual therapy, underwent clinical trials, and results have been reported in several medical journals, including Medscape General Medicine Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health.

In the first study, 71 percent of women diagnosed infertile by their doctors an average of five years, became pregnant naturally within one year of receiving the therapy. Most of the women gave birth, and several have had subsequent natural full-term pregnancies. While the total number of participants was small, the results were considered important enough to be published in a major peer-reviewed medical journal.

In another Medscape study, scientists examined the effectiveness of using the therapy before in vitro-fertilization (IVF) in women averaging five years of infertility. Those who had therapy before IVF transfer reported a clinical pregnancy rate of 67 percent. The control group (no therapy) had a 41 percent rate – the national average for clinical pregnancy after embryo transfer according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Most of the pregnancies in the therapy group reported live births.

A study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine showed that therapy opened totally blocked fallopian tubes, a procedure previously thought impossible without surgery. Of the women whose tubes opened (61 percent), most went on to have natural pregnancies and births.

The Wurns, co-authors of Miracle Moms Better Sex Less Pain – The ‘Clear Passage’ Story (www.miraclemoms.net), were initially looking for a cure for pelvic pain when they began seeing unexpected natural pregnancies in women diagnosed infertile. Surprised by their results, they expanded their work to develop a non-pharmaceutical treatment for female infertility. Several of their studies have provided statistically significant results.

After being diagnosed with cervical cancer and undergoing pelvic surgery, Belinda was pronounced cured. A short time later, she began to have a pulling sensation in her pelvis which quickly turned to debilitating pain. As she and her husband searched for an end to her pain, they soon realized that modern medicine was not the answer. Doctors told Belinda that the pain was due to adhesions caused by her surgery, and that the only way to relieve the pain was more surgery which would likely result in more adhesions.

That diagnosis began a 20-year journey of research and testing of a drug-free soft-tissue physical therapy that has been found safe and effective, and is now offered in several clinics in the USA. The treatment they perfected begins with a trained physical therapist locating abnormal tensions in and around the organs, muscles, and support structures of the body. Guided by her experience, precise knowledge of the anatomy and of her patient’s medical history, she applies a specific pressure to adhered areas. This pressure is designed to reduce the adhesions that formed in the body over time, and return the structures to normal mobility, tone, and function.

“Over time, we found that we were helping pain and dysfunctions beyond our original intent and out of the usual scope of physical therapy practice,” said Wurn. “Many of these ‘discoveries’ were uncovered by chance. Patients who came for treatment of chronic pain would often report dramatic improvement in seemingly unrelated areas, such as digestion, elimination, and reproductive or sexual function.”

About Larry and Belinda Wurn

Belinda Wurn began her education as a pre-med student at the University of Florida. Despite a straight-A average, Belinda soon realized that her heart was in a more “hands-on” approach. She transferred to the Physical Therapy program, graduated and began working. An artist when he and Belinda married, Larry Wurn is now a massage therapist and Research Director of Clear Passage Therapies, Inc. Miracle Moms Better Sex Less Pain – The ‘Clear Passage’ Story is available at www.miraclemoms.net. Larry and Belinda Wurn live happily in Gainesville, Florida.

The Wurns now have several ‘Clear Passage’ clinics across the United States –named from their experience opening blocked fallopian tubes. Their research articles and citations have been published in such respected Medical journals as Medscape General Medicine, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Contemporary Ob/Gyn and Fertility and Sterility.

adhesions in abdomen

Click here to download the free ebook,  Chapters Two and Three: How Adhesions Form in the Body’s Structure from “Miracle Moms.” (http://www.clearpassage.com/resources/ebook.php)

“Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain” by Larry and Belinda Wurn with Richard King, MD is available now at amazon.com (Med-Art Press). Foreword by New York Times best-selling author Christiane Northrup, MD and endorsed by physicians from Harvard, Columbia, Northwestern, and other fine professionals.

Dr. Leslie Mendoza Temple, Family Medicine Instructor, Northwestern University Medical School, and Medical Director, Integrative Medicine NorthShore University HealthSystem says, “I am excited to see that you have studied and perfected a technique to treat adhesions, with years of experience, scientific ‘backup’ and case studies to prove it. This technique makes sense: to put ‘hands on’ the problem and nurture the body’s innate desire to heal from pelvic pain, hormonal imbalance, endometriosis, infertility, and related dysfunction. Read this book if you suffer from pelvic or digestive disorders, or if you are a doctor who sees patients with these problems.” Read more reviews from top physicians, authors, and other respected professionals.

Miracle Moms now available (Med-Art Press)

To order your copy of “Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain” online, visit Amazon at one of the following links:

* amazon.com – United States
* amazon.ca – Canada
* amazon.co.uk – United Kingdom

Read why doctors and authors from Harvard, Columbia and other fine medical schools think this work is so important.

What top physicians, authors and other respected professionals are saying…

As one of the founding members of the Clear Passage Therapies team, I feel very fortunate to work with an exceptional group of therapists as well as our excellent administrative staff.

I became a physical therapist to help others heal from injuries and return to active lifestyles and full function. But after being diagnosed with cancer of the cervix in 1984, I became the patient who needed help healing. Following the diagnosis, I had surgery and extensive internal and external radiation therapy. I survived the cancer, but the treatments designed to heal me left my lower abdomen, pelvis and lower back scarred, and adhered all of my pelvic organs to neighboring tissues and structures causing a “frozen pelvis.”

Over the next few years I began experiencing many symptoms caused by chronic complications that were the result of adhesions and scarring of the radiated tissues and narrowing of blood vessels within the original treatment area. Unfortunately, when a malignant tumor is irradiated, many structures and surrounding normal tissue cells are also damaged. I found out I was infertile, menopausal, and was developing chronic pelvic and tailbone pain, and dysfunction of many of my digestive organs.

My career as a physical therapist came to a halt when I found that conventional medicine offered little relief, I began to search for alternative treatment for my debilitating symptoms. I got tired of hearing “it’s all in your head,” or “you will have to learn to live with it.” Wanting to avoid further medical treatment or surgery, I was treated by many expert osteopathic physicians and manual physical therapists throughout the U.S. and abroad with a variety of hands-on treatments.

I then began taking many post-graduate courses in various manual physical therapy and osteopathic techniques. As the first faint glimmer of hope dawned in my pain relief, my curiosity turned into a passion and then a lifetime journey. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. Manual soft tissue therapy became my passion as I refined my ability to use my hands to palpate restricted areas and “listen” to the body. My husband, Larry then began to study with the same experts I had been studying with. He continued to treat me, and I was finally feeling good enough to go back to work. We modified and refined techniques we learned from many experts, and began developing our own techniques.

In 1989, Larry and I opened Professional Touch Physical Therapy (PTPT) to treat a large chronic pain population. Then something remarkable happened. We began seeing “infertility reversals” in patients diagnosed infertile. And so our journey with Clear Passage began.

What motivates me professionally and personally is leading a life centered around the principles of excellence, empowerment, integrity and honesty. My goal was to create the type of clinic I wish I had been able to go to while I was searching for relief from my pain. I wanted to create a space of true healing, support, compassion, empowerment, caring, and mutual respect.

I love to travel, and want to see as much of the world as possible in this lifetime. France and Italy are among my favorite countries. I love to go back there as often as possible! Last winter, Larry and I went skiing in Chamonix, France for a week. Last summer, we went on a 3-week photo safari to Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, which was the trip of a lifetime. We recently enjoyed a trip to beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico that is located at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula.

I also love to snow ski, go boating on the lake we live on, swim, work out, listen to audio books on my iPod, and play with our two 4-legged “kids.” Larry and I have 2 beautiful Golden Retrievers. Our 2-year-old female is Chablis, from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The theme of her litter was book titles. Our 1-year-old male is Dylan. The theme of his litter was rivers, so his registered name is Watchin’ the River Flow, by Bob Dylan. I also adore gourmet food and fine wines. Life is good!

One of my favorite expressions is “create your vision, and then step into it.” Best wishes to all of you on your journey!

Gainesville, FL (PRWEB) October 23, 2008 — Clear Passage Therapies®, a recognized leader in non-surgical treatment for female infertility, launches the new Clear Passage blog this week in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week.

Clinical Director, Belinda Wurn, says, “We hope this blog will become a resource for people to discuss and share advice on infertility, adhesions, and related health issues.”

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, an estimated six million women in the US experience infertility, and that number is growing. Ovulation problems account for a big part of female infertility; warning signs include irregular or absent menstruation. Adhesions and blocked fallopian tubes are also major causes of infertility. Fallopian tubes can become blocked by adhesions after surgery, trauma, infection, or inflammation.

Adhesions are a by-product of the healing process. Surgery (c-section, D&C, or other pelvic or abdominal surgery), trauma (auto accident, a fall, physical or sexual abuse), infection (bladder or yeast), and inflammation (endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or STD) can all cause adhesions to form in the female reproductive organs. After they attach and grow, they can restrict normal body function and cause pain and dysfunction, including nearly half of all female infertility.

“Our blog will highlight adhesions and infertility, as well as pain and dysfunction,” says Wurn. “We plan to offer educational podcasts, videos, and polls. Most importantly, bloggers will be able to post comments for discussion.”

Wurn believes the blog can play a pivotal role in helping women discuss important medical concerns. She states, “Twenty years ago, my body was left scared and in pain after surgery and radiation therapy for cervical cancer. I wish a forum like this had existed then where I could speak with other women and experts about the pain and sexual dysfunction I experienced.” Unable to find treatment to relieve her pain, Belinda and her husband, Larry, designed a manual physical therapy protocol that eventually helped her recover.

The Wurns are currently co-authoring a book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, that examines their non-surgical manual physical therapy (Wurn Technique). The therapy has been shown to reduce adhesions, decrease pain, and restore function in peer-reviewed medical journals. It has proven effective for many people without the risks or side effects of surgery or drugs. It can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other infertility treatments.

The book will be published this winter and includes research gynecologist, Richard King, MD, as a co-author. The authors plan to provide the table of contents at the blog to open discussions with their readers on important topics. A free e-book excerpt from the book will also be available soon at clearpassage.com.

More than half of the women in the study also reported concerns of physical or sexual abuse, and over 40% reported sexual coercion at some point in their lives. “Experiences with abuse or coercion may explain why some women are hesitant to talk about their sexual concerns,” says physical therapist Belinda Wurn, an expert in treating the physical components of sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia.

Still, many other women with no history of abuse often conclude that painful intercourse is a normal occurrence for women and do not think to complain to their physician. They simply live with the pain or become disinterested in sex.

“When sex hurts, intercourse can become a time of silent agony instead of pleasure,” Wurn says. “Many women may attempt to avoid sex altogether due to the pain.”

Wurn should know. After a pelvic surgery and radiation for cancer of the cervix left her infertile and in pain, she searched for years to regain a pain-free sexual life. Now the tables are turned and she is conducting and publishing research on the work that got her out of pain.

The pelvic therapy she uses addresses a wholly physical component; it is designed to decrease vaginal and pelvic adhesions that form after trauma, infection, inflammation, or surgery. Untreated, adhesions can remain in the body for a lifetime where they act like glue, tightening tissues and causing pain.

Wurn’s findings have been published in several peer-reviewed medical journals, but “research is only one step in the right direction in helping women resolve their painful intercourse,” she says. “Healthcare professionals need to be stronger advocates and initiate conversations about sexual health with their patients. Sex should not hurt and women don’t have to live with it.”

”Women might want to keep a journal to assess their pain,” Wurn suggests. ”They should note when the pain first started, how often it occurs, if it occurs at certain times during the monthly cycle or in certain coital positions, and if the pain occurs at the entrance or deeper within the vagina. Women should feel encouraged to discuss their journal with their gynecologist. If their doctor doesn’t listen, they should find another who will.”

Wurn and her husband are currently co-authoring a new book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, to help bring these issues to the forefront of medical care.

“Passing 150 births is a real milestone for us, but we feel this is only the beginning,” said co-developer and physical therapist Belinda Wurn. “It is gratifying to see success in a large variety of infertility diagnoses, and that positive results seem to last for years.”

“One of my fallopian tubes had been surgically removed and the other was completely blocked, leaving me with no chance for a natural pregnancy,” said one patient to Wurn. “It was an amazing feeling when I learned my tube was open after therapy, and even more amazing when I became pregnant naturally. I have since been blessed with three healthy babies.”

The hands-on physical therapy was first examined in two studies published in the peer reviewed medical journal Medscape General Medicine (6/04). The first study examined the ability of the therapy to help infertile women conceive naturally. After therapy, 71% of the participants had a natural pregnancy and most had full-term births.

The second study showed that women who received the therapy before IVF had a 67% clinical pregnancy rate in embryos transferred after therapy – significantly higher than the 41% control group (P<.001). Average duration of infertility before therapy in the studies was five years.

“Both of my IVF transfers before therapy were unsuccessful,” said another patient to therapist Mandy Roscow, MPT. “I had endometriosis and hoped this therapy would prepare my body to be more successful in my next transfer. Apparently it did — I became pregnant in my first IVF after therapy and now have beautiful twins!”

The new treatment is considered low risk, as it uses no drugs or surgery, according to co-developer Larry Wurn. The therapy, known as the Wurn Technique®, is used to treat infertility and pelvic and intercourse pain. It is available exclusively at several Clear Passage Therapies® clinics from New York to California. The 20-hour program can be completed in as little as five days.

Media contact: Larry Wurn, 352-336-1433 or cptherapy(at)aol.com

Women with dyspareunia (painful intercourse) may also experience pain in the lower back, hip, buttocks and groin. Some are unable to sit for long periods of time, have frequent bladder infections, or suffer from digestive or bowel problems. Many report a decreased desire to engage in sexual activity, inability to have an orgasm, and problems trying to conceive.

Men often feel powerless in helping their partner deal with these difficult issues. Unable to help relieve the pain, many men become confused, depressed and deeply frustrated that their touch causes their partner pain.

Some women complain that traditional dyspareunia treatments — medication, lubricants or psychological counseling — address symptoms, but not the cause of the pain. However, a recently published study indicates that a more permanent answer may be as simple as “the right touch.”

Seventeen years ago, massage therapist Larry Wurn was frustrated trying to find a cure for his wife’s pelvic pain. Belinda Wurn had to resign as Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida due to the pain she experienced after pelvic surgery. That’s when the couple began to develop a non-invasive hands-on therapy to treat Belinda’s pelvic pain. The therapy, a slow and deep bodywork focused on the areas of pain, has evolved over the years into a treatment for intercourse pain and related disorders.

The Wurn Technique® (patent pending) is a manual physical therapy without the drugs often associated with medical techniques. In a recently published peer reviewed study, it relieved or eliminated intercourse pain in 96% of the women treated, and showed statistically significant improvements in all six major areas of sexual function: (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain). Of the 23 women who received the therapy, 78% reported increased desire and 56% reported increased orgasms on their post treatment study surveys.

According to the Wurns, most patients begin to notice pain relief within the first few hours of therapy. By the end of the one-week program (available at Clear Passage Therapies® clinics) pain significantly decreased or was eliminated in all but one study patient.

In addition to decreasing intercourse pain and improving orgasms, peer reviewed published studies show increased pregnancies in women diagnosed infertile, after this therapy.

About Clear Passage:

Clear Passage Therapies® has clinics in California, Florida, and Iowa. Most patients fly in for the one-week course of therapy. Information is available at http://www.clearpassage.com/ or toll free at 1-866-222-9437.

Belinda Wurn, PT graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in physical therapy from the University of Florida in 1975. She and her husband, massage therapist Larry Wurn, owned a network of chronic pain clinics as they developed their work treating pelvic pain and female infertility. Belinda is considered an expert in causes and treatments of various types of sexual dysfunction including decreased orgasm, desire, arousal, lubrication and satisfaction and painful intercourse. She has co-authored studies about improving natural and IVF (in vitro fertilization) pregnancy rates in women diagnosed infertile.

Larry Wurn, LMT studied manual therapy with several recognized experts in manual therapy to help treat Belinda for pain and dysfunction following surgery and pelvic radiation. Prior to their development, Belinda had been unable to find relief with traditional medical care. As Larry progressed in his education, he and Belinda developed new techniques to help relieve pain and improve reproductive function, including fertility.

Research studies: Belinda and Larry were joined by scientists and research physicians who became fascinated with the results they saw with this new therapy. To date, the group has published three studies in WebMD’s internationally recognized peer-reviewed journal, Medscape General Medicine. These studies were distributed to 2.5 million physician subscribers in 249 countries and were recently accepted into the US Library of Medicine.