Pelvic Physical Therapy Improves IVF Outcome

There is a small number of physical therapists, that specialize in manual pelvic physical therapy, which has shown to improve natural and IVF success rates. Pelvic physical therapy works directly on the muscles, organs and support structures of the reproductive tract in the pelvis. The goal of the treatment is to reduce the development of adhesions that can develop after surgery, trauma, infections, or inflammations. The surgeries could be a laparoscopy, c-section, abortion, back surgery, etc. The cause of the infection or inflammation could be a simple bladder or yeast infection, endometiosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), etc.

Adhesions are sometimes the reason for a woman’s reduced fertility. Depending on the location where adhesions develop, they can cause a blockage in the fallopian tubes, impair the disrupt the function of the fimbriae at the ends of the fallopian tubes, or cause inflammation on the uterine wall, preventing the fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall.

Physical therapists trained in this skill that is also known as the Wurn Technique®, first conduct a thorough evaluation, and look at your medical history. Once they completed the screening your abdomen for any tight or painful areas, they apply specific therapies and stretches to reduce the adhesions, spasms or stenosis (hardening).

Clinical studies done on the technique have shown that 67% of women undergoing IVF treatment successfully conceived when they received approximately 20 hours of pelvic physical therapy. The research also revealed that the technique had some good side effects: 96% of study participants reported decreased pain during intercourse, 91% reported increase in desire, arousal and orgasms.

For more information about the treatment, please contact the Reproductive Wellness Center in San Diego (www.reproductivewellness.com).