Infertility and Chiropractic Research

Chiropractic care focuses on optimizing the health of the spine and nervous system, which play vital roles in the overall function of the body. Since the nervous system controls communication between the brain and every organ — including those involved in reproduction — improving spinal health may help create a more balanced environment for fertility. While chiropractic care does not treat infertility directly, research and case studies suggest that addressing spinal misalignments and improving nervous system function may support the body's natural ability to conceive. Below are summaries of studies and case reports exploring the relationship between chiropractic care and fertility outcomes.

Successful In Vitro Fertilization in a Poor Responder While Under NetworkSpinal Care

This case report discusses a 34-year-old woman who had previously attempted in vitro fertilization (IVF) but was unsuccessful due to a poor response to medical treatments like birth control pills, hormone therapies, and fertility drugs. After beginning regular NetworkSpinal chiropractic care, her body’s chemistry and overall health showed notable improvements. Following chiropractic care, her next IVF attempt was successful, and she became pregnant. She remained under chiropractic care during her pregnancy, and by the time of the report, she was well into her second trimester with normal fetal development. This case suggests that improving nervous system function through chiropractic care may support better physiological conditions for conception and pregnancy.

Source: Senzon SA. Successful In Vitro Fertilization in a Poor Responder While Under NetworkSpinal Care: A Case Report. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. September 14, 2003;1-6.

The Resolution of Chronic Colitis with Chiropractic Care Leading to Increased Fertility

A 32-year-old woman sought chiropractic care primarily for chronic colitis, a condition affecting the colon. Interestingly, she did not disclose her ongoing struggles with infertility during treatment. Her chiropractic care plan included specialized techniques like Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) and Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique (CMRT). During the course of her care, her colitis symptoms improved significantly. Simultaneously, after years of unsuccessful allopathic fertility treatments, she became pregnant naturally. This case highlights how chiropractic care aimed at improving overall body function, not specifically treating infertility, may still positively influence fertility by supporting better nervous system and organ function.

Source: Blum CR. The Resolution of Chronic Colitis with Chiropractic Care Leading to Increased Fertility. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. August 31, 2003;1-5.

Reduction of Vertebral Subluxation Using Torque Release Technique with Changes in Fertility: Two Case Reports

This report details two cases of women who had been deemed medically infertile and were considering artificial insemination. Upon beginning chiropractic care, both women underwent thorough spinal evaluations, revealing the presence of vertebral subluxations. Care was provided using the Torque Release Technique, a precise method employing a hand-held instrument called the Integrator to deliver gentle and specific adjustments. Over time, both women conceived naturally without needing further medical intervention. The cases suggest that restoring proper spinal and nervous system function may help create a more balanced internal environment, supporting natural fertility and overall wellness.

Source: Anderson-Peacock E. Reduction of Vertebral Subluxation Using Torque Release Technique with Changes in Fertility: Two Case Reports. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. July 19, 2003;1-6.

Insult, Interference, and Infertility: An Overview of Chiropractic Research

This paper provides a review of 14 studies involving 15 women aged between 22 and 65 years, many of whom had long-standing infertility issues. Some had undergone multiple infertility treatments without success, and others were categorized as "poor responders" to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF. After beginning chiropractic care, many women experienced improved fertility outcomes, including successful pregnancies. The review discusses various chiropractic adjusting techniques used and emphasizes the potential role of spinal care in restoring nervous system function, improving pelvic alignment, and optimizing the body’s ability to conceive naturally.

Source: Behrendt M. Insult, Interference, and Infertility: An Overview of Chiropractic Research. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. May 2, 2003;1-8.

Manipulative Therapy in Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System

In this textbook, the author discusses the growing evidence that dysfunctions in the pelvis and spine may contribute to female infertility. The text references a randomized controlled trial showing that women receiving spinal manipulative therapy had significantly higher pregnancy rates than those who did not. Specifically, 34% of the treatment group became pregnant compared to only 8% of the control group. When the control group later received spinal care, an additional 27% became pregnant. These findings suggest that spinal health may play a crucial role in supporting reproductive function.

Source: Lewit K. Manipulative Therapy in Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System. 2nd ed. Butterworth-Heineman, Oxford; 1991.

Fertility via the Back Door

This article tells the story of a 38-year-old woman who, after tragically losing a child, struggled to conceive again for three years. She began receiving chiropractic adjustments to correct misalignments and improve her nervous system function. A few months later, her husband also started chiropractic care. Within one year of initiating chiropractic care, the couple conceived naturally and delivered a healthy baby. This story highlights how improving overall body balance and nervous system communication through chiropractic adjustments may contribute positively to fertility outcomes.

Source: Davidson M. Fertility via the Back Door. What Doctors Don’t Tell You. March 2001;Vol. 11 No. 12:12.

Chiropractic Applications for Infertility

A 40-year-old woman, who previously suffered a miscarriage and had significant postural abnormalities including head tilt, shoulder height differences, spinal curvature, and foot pronation, sought chiropractic care primarily for mid-back pain. Comprehensive chiropractic and postural evaluations revealed spinal misalignments affecting multiple areas. She was treated with diversified adjusting techniques and Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET). After care, her overall alignment and health improved. She successfully became pregnant, carried the pregnancy to full term, and gave birth to a healthy baby girl, emphasizing the connection between spinal health, posture, and reproductive wellness.

Source: Anderson C. Chiropractic Applications for Infertility. ICA Review. September/October 2000.

Inability to Conceive: Two Case Histories

These two cases describe women who faced prolonged struggles with infertility despite medical interventions. In the first case, a woman who had not menstruated for 12 years began chiropractic care focusing on the lumbar spine. After two months, her menstrual cycle resumed, and within four months, she conceived naturally. In the second case, a woman with a severe scoliosis (Cobb's angle of 58°) underwent chiropractic care targeting spinal misalignments. After six months, her spinal curve significantly improved, and she became pregnant soon after. Both stories suggest that correcting spinal misalignments may positively impact reproductive function.

Source: Webster LL. Inability to Conceive: Two Case Histories. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Newsletter. November 1995.

The Restoration of Female Fertility in Response to Chiropractic Treatment

A 36-year-old woman with unexplained infertility presented with pelvic pain, neck and back pain, headaches, and tinnitus. Chiropractic adjustments were administered to address spinal dysfunctions at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar levels. Over the course of care, her symptoms substantially improved, and shortly afterward, she conceived naturally. Her pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated. This case supports the idea that addressing spinal subluxations may help improve the body's physiological balance and create favorable conditions for conception.

Source: McNabb B. The Restoration of Female Fertility in Response to Chiropractic Treatment. Proceedings of the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics. 1994:55-64.

Vertebral Lesions and the Course of Pregnancy in Animals

This early osteopathic literature highlights observations that vertebral lesions (misalignments) in women often correlated with infertility and complications during pregnancy. Several practitioners reported that when spinal issues in the lumbar, pelvic, and lower thoracic regions were corrected, women who had struggled with infertility were able to conceive and have normal pregnancies. One case described a woman who became pregnant within two weeks of spinal correction after four years of infertility. These early findings suggest a strong connection between spinal health and reproductive success.

Source: Burns L. Vertebral Lesions and the Course of Pregnancy in Animals. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. November 1923;Vol. 23 No. 3.