Combined Manual Therapy Techniques for the Treatment of Women With Infertility: A

Case Series

Mary Ellen Kramp, DPT, CLT-LANA

Current treatment options for infertility, including hormone therapy, intrauterine insemination, and

in vitro fertilization, tend to be expensive, are not necessarily covered by insurance, and carry

different levels of short-term and long-term health risks. Many of the issues that contribute to

infertility can be traced to scar tissue, fascial restriction, and lymphatic congestion in the pelvic

region. Manual therapy techniques exist to release fascial restrictions, to mobilize tight ligaments,

and to drain congested lymphatics, all of which can be applied to the reproductive system. In this

case series, 10 infertile women were treated with 1 to 6 sessions of manual therapy applied to the

pelvic region. Techniques included muscle energy, lymphatic drainage, and visceral manipulation. Six

of the 10 women conceived within 3 months of the last treatment session, and all 6 of those women

delivered at full term.

J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2012;112(10):680-685

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Women in their childbearing years who have not been able to conceive after 1 year of unprotected

intercourse are considered infertile according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC).1 The CDC reports that 6.7 million women aged 15 to 44 years have impaired fecundity, and

1.5 million married women are infertile.1 Worldwide, 15% of couples are reported as infertile.2 In

general , 27% of cases of infertility are caused by ovulation disorders; 25%, male factors; 22% , tubal

disorders; 17%, unexplained factors; 5% , endometriosis; and 4%, other factors.3,4 According to

Williams Gynecology, 4 women who have not previously been able to conceive are considered to have

primary infertility. Those who have previously conceived, whether or not the pregnancy was

successful, are considered to have secondary infertility.

Average fertile women (aged 22-40 years) who have coitus in the week prior to ovulation

have a 20% chance of developing a clinical pregnancy during each ovulatory cycle. Fifty-seven

percent of fertile couples will conceive in the first 3 months, 72% in 6 months, and 85% in 1 year.4

Women whose infertility is unexplained have monthly fecundity rates of 10% to 15% with

hormone therapy and intrauterine insemination (IUI).3 In Canada, Collins et al5 found that

pregnancy rates for 873 infertile couples without any treatment were 35% after 3 years and 45%

after 7 years. In the Netherlands, van der Steeg6 found that, overall, untreated infertile couples were

able to achieve spontaneous pregnancy 29.5% of the time within 12 months. Katz7 reported that

the incidence of infertility increases steadily in women after the age of 30.

Current options for treatment are dependent on the cause of infertility. Treatment options

include fertility drugs, IUI, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, these treatments come with

several considerations. First, procedures such as IVF are invasive and carry risk of infection. Second,

the treatments can be expensive; the median cost for IVF is $24,373.4 It is often not covered by

insurance and frequently needs to be repeated.4 Success rates are approximately 38%,3 and the

successes have a high rate of multiple births, which places increased risks on the mother and the
2
fetuses.7 Even though fewer embryos are being implanted now than a decade ago, multiple

pregnancy remains the single highest risk of IVF.8

According to 2010 data on assisted reproductive technology, women attempting to conceive

by means of IVF are doing so because of tubal factors (7%), ovulatory dysfunction (7%), diminished

ovarian reserve (15%), endometriosis (4%), uterine factors (1%), male factors (17%), other factors

(7%), and unknown factors (12%).8 In couples undergoing IVF, 11% reported multiple factors in

women and 18% reported multiple factors in both men and women.8 In 2010, the national

percentage of IVF cycles using fresh embryos from nondonor eggs that resulted in live births ranged

from 5.0% to 41.5%, depending on age group.9 Of cycles that resulted in conception, 56.6% resulted

in a singleton pregnancy, 24.9% resulted in a multiple fetus pregnancy, and 16.4 % ended in

miscarriage, 0.9% induced abortion, 0.7% stillbirth, and 0.4% unknown outcome.10 Pregnancy rates

after IUI, according to Katz,4 are 25% to 35%.

Physiologic Factors in Infertility

Many of the issues that cause a woman to have difficulty with conception can be traced to scar

tissue, fascial restriction, and congested lymphatics.11,12 Manual medicine has been used to manage

these specific problems, but, to my knowledge, it has not been used to manage functional infertility.

Part of the basic foundation of osteopathic medicine is that manual mobilization has an impact at

the cellular level:

The cells, which make up our body, have an internal environment also. The fluid matrix of it must be
free of ‘pollution.’ Waste products of tissue metabolism must be constantly carried away by the veins and
lymphatics. The health and life of cells and therefore the whole body depend on it.13

To understand the concept of manual therapy as a treatment for patients with infertility, one must

consider the reproductive environment at the cellular level and the reproductive anatomy at the

tissue level. The arterial, venous, and lymphatic circulations are interrelated. The arteries transport

the blood to the cells, then the venous system returns 90% of what was transported back to the

3
heart.12 The lymphatic system will pick up particles too large to transport across the venous capillary

membranes and interstitial fluid. Once interstitial fluid enters the lymph capillaries, it is called

lymph.11 The lymphatic system transports the remainder of this fluid (10% of the original fluid

transported by the arteries) to lymph nodes for filtering before returning the lymph back to the

venous system.

The abdomen and pelvis contain approximately 250 lymph nodes. The lymphatic vessels of

the uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries drain to the external and internal iliac nodes, obturator nodes,

para-aortic nodes, and superficial inguinal nodes.12

The suspensory ligaments of the urogenital system are important in the mobility and

function of the pelvic organs. The uterovesical ligaments attach the bladder to the uterus. The

uterosacral ligaments help to suspend the uterus posteriorly. The urogenital system is also supported

by ovarian ligaments, suspensory ligaments, and tubo-ovarian ligaments. Just as the ligaments are

important in the structure and function of a joint, they are equally important in the mobility and

function of the pelvic organs.14

The symptoms of dysfunction in the reproductive system can present within the body as

dysfunction of the reproductive organs, pelvic asymmetry, sacral dysfunction, bloating, or pain.14,15

Symptoms related to lymphatic congestion in the pelvic region with hormonal bias are

dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, ovarian cysts, emotional instability, and depression.16(p795)

Release of fascial and ligamentous restrictions can decrease pressure on blood vessels, thereby

optimizing the vascular phase and improving the efficacy of the lymphatic system.16(p797) This

improved efficacy, in turn, aids in restoring optimal blood flow to the organs, normalizing the ability

for hormone production.15

Decongestion of the lymphatic system can help remove waste from the organs and thus help

normalize their function.11 Mobilizing fluid and cellular waste from the pelvic cavity should also

4
allow hormones to more efficiently arrive at the target tissues.11 Within the reproductive system, this

decongestion could theoretically lead to normalized hormone levels, normalized menstrual cycles,

and pregnancy. Visceral manipulation, muscle energy, craniosacral therapy, and lymphatic drainage

have not been investigated as options for the treatment of infertility; however, the treatment effects

of these therapies on other parts of the body could be extrapolated to the pelvis and reproductive

system. In the present prospective case series report, I describe the outcomes of 10 infertile women

who were treated with manual therapy to the pelvic region.

Report of Cases

Patient Histories and Review of Systems

Ten infertile women who sequentially presented to a clinic were treated with a standard manual

therapy protocol. The women were considered infertile according to the CDC's definition (ie, unable

to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse), were not undergoing any other therapies, and

had partners who had been tested and found to have normal sperm counts. None of the women had

reversals of tubal ligations. There were no known reproductive abnormalities. Any infertility testing

was done independently by the women’s personal physicians. Of the 10 women treated, 7 had

previous pregnancies. Of those 7 who had previously become pregnant, 5 had miscarriages. Five of

the women had undergone unsuccessful infertility treatments in the past. At the time of treatment,

none of the women were undergoing treatment with hormones, IUI, or IVF. When asked about

their past medical history, 5 women listed low back pain, 1 listed irregular periods, 1 listed ovarian

tumors, and 1 listed stage IV endometriosis. Two women listed no issues in their medical histories.

Regarding surgical history, 1 woman had a dilation and curettage, and 1 woman had a previous

cesarean section. A breakdown of the women's past medical and surgical histories is presented in

Table 1.

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 Table 1.
Past Medical and Surgical Histories of Infertile Women Who Received Manual Therapy

Time
Patient Past Medical Past Surgical Attempting Type of Maternal
No. History History Conception Infertility Age, y
1 Unremarkable None 1y Primary 30
2 Low back pain Cesarean section 1y Secondary 34
3 Right ovarian Dilation and curettage,
Tumor, low laparoscopy (right 2y Secondary 41
back pain, ovarian tumor removed)
miscarriage
4 Irregular cycle, Electrophysiology 6y Secondary 28
miscarriage study ablation, breast
augmentation
5 Miscarriage None 3y Secondary 36
6 Endometriosis Pelvic laparoscopy 2 y, 9 mo Primary 33
7 Miscarriage None 1y Secondary 34
8 Miscarriage None 7y Secondary 39
9 Unremarkable None 1y Secondary 36
10 Low back pain None 3y Primary 41

Evaluation and Intervention

Women were evaluated for pelvic symmetry at the anterior superior iliac spine and posterior

superior iliac spine, osseous restrictions at the sacroiliac joints by means of sacral mobility, visceral

fascial restrictions, myofascial trigger points around the entire pelvis, and lymphatic congestion of

the uterus and inguinal, iliac, and para-aortic nodes. Manual therapy techniques were chosen

according to the specific findings of somatic dysfunction. The techniques were performed according

to the protocols described by Chikly,11 Barral,15 Upledger and Vredevoogd,17 and D'Ambrogio.18

To attempt increased specificity with evaluation, the mobility of the viscera was recorded as

normal, minimally restricted, moderately restricted, or severely restricted. Viscera that was minimally

restricted had less than 25% of its motion limited, viscera that was moderately restricted had 25% to

75% of motion restricted, and viscera that was severely restricted was had greater than 75% of

mobility restricted.

I evaluated and treated each woman according to the following protocol:

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 1. Assessed the pelvis for asymmetry and corrected asymmetry with muscle energy

techniques, if needed

2. Assessed sacral mobility and corrected dysfunction with craniosacral techniques,17 if

needed

3. Assessed for trigger points around and within the pelvis and treated trigger points with

positional release techniques,18 if needed

4. Assessed lymph drainage of the pelvis and pelvic organs and applied manual lymph

drainage techniques,11 if needed

5. Assessed mobility and motility of pelvic viscera and used fascial techniques to release

restrictions, 14 if needed

6. Reassessed symmetry and all mobilities

7. Treatments were repeated twice per week until evaluation revealed unrestricted

mobility, symmetry in the pelvis, and normal lymph flow.

The patients were followed up for 3 months after treatments concluded. Women who

became pregnant within 3 months were followed up after delivery.

Outcomes

On examination, 7 of the women were found to have sacral restrictions ranging from mild to severe.

Seven women also had restriction in uterine mobility, which ranged from mild to severe. When the

lymphatic flow was assessed in the uterus and the pelvis, 1 woman was found to have uterine

lymphatic congestion, 1 had mild pelvic lymphatic congestion, 1 had moderate pelvic lymphatic

congestion, and 2 had severe pelvic lymphatic congestion. One woman received 1 treatment session,

3 received 2 sessions, 4 received 4 sessions, and 2 received 6 sessions. Six of the 10 women

7
conceived, had singleton pregnancies, and delivered at full term. Examination findings, number of

treatment sessions, and patient outcomes are presented in Table 2.

Table 2.
Profile and Physical Findings of Infertile Women Who Received Manual Therapy

No. of Delivered
Full
a
Patient No. Osseous Issues Visceral Fascia Lymphatics Treatments Conceived Term
1 Moderate Normal Normal 2 Y Y
sacral Mobility
restriction
2 Moderate Mild decreased Mild pelvic 4 Y Y
sacral uterine mobility congestion
restriction
3 Moderate Mild decreased Normal 4 N NA
sacral uterine mobility
restriction
4 Moderate Severe decreased Severe pelvic 4 N NA
sacral uterine mobility congestion
restriction
5 Mild Severe decreased Severe pelvic 4 N NA
sacral uterine mobility congestion
restriction
6 Severe Severe decreased Uterus 6 N NA
sacral uterine mobility congestion
restriction
7 Normal Normal Moderate 2 Y Y
mobility pelvic
congestion
8 Normal Mild decreased Moderate 2 Y Y
uterine mobility pelvic
congestion
9 Normal Mild decreased Normal 1 Y Y
uterine mobility
10 Severe Severe decreased Normal 6 Y Y
sacral restriction uterine mobility
a
Conceived within 3 months of last manual therapy session.

Abbreviation: NA, not applicable.

Comment

Although research exists for acupuncture as a treatment for women with infertility,19,20,21,22,23 little

research has been published on the use of manual therapy techniques applied to the pelvis as a

8
therapeutic treatment option for infertility. A literature search yielded a single published study24 on

physical therapy as a treatment for infertility. In the study, treatment techniques were not disclosed.

In the present case series’ population, 6 of 10 previously infertile women were able to

conceive within 3 months after receiving various manual therapy techniques to the pelvis. This

fertility rate of 60% within a 3-month period is the same as that of fertile couples.4 These findings

suggest that manual therapy applied to the pelvis could be a viable treatment option for infertile

women and should be investigated further.

Of note, the manual therapy protocol used in the present case series was limited to external

treatments. Other mobilizations not used in the treatment of these women may also be of benefit.

For example, internal mobilization of the cervix could allow for better movement of the sperm

through the uterus during and after coitus. Arterial mobilizations described by osteopathic

physicians Barral and Croibier25 may also help increase vascularization of the reproductive organs.

One limitation of the assessment used in the present case series is the quantification of the

mobility of the organs. No publication could be found referencing a manner to measure visceral

mobility. However, Stone26 states that testing of visceral mobility involves trying to replicate

“normal” movement and trying to assess whether the motion appears to be restricted or altered.

This assessment allows for a before-and-after comparison of the tissues. She also states, “Altered

physical properties arising from inflammation and other pathological processes will affect palpable

visceral characteristics such as stretch, deformation and compressibility. In this way, osteopaths can

distinguish to some degree whether a tissue is normal or not normal.” 26 Further research would be

beneficial in assessing range of motion of organs to obtain normative data.

Another limitation of this study, as with any case series report, is the low number of women

treated. It is difficult to say with a high level of certainty that the manual therapy techniques were

what contributed to the improved fertility. Studies with larger groups, including control participants,

9
would help to discern the exact statistical significance of manual techniques in the management of

infertility.

In the present study, the number of treatments for each woman ranged from 1 to 6. This

low number of treatments suggests that manual medicine would be an inexpensive treatment option

for infertility. In addition, manual mobilization techniques do not contain the risks associated with

traditional infertility treatments such as multiple births.

Just as manual therapy is used as a first course of treatment for patients considering back

surgery,27 manual therapy could potentially be used as a first course of treatment for infertile patients

considering hormone therapy, IUI, or IVF treatments. The ethics committee for the American

Society for Reproductive Medicine states, “For those treatments with very poor success rates,

clinicians must be vigilant in their presentation of risks, benefits, and alternatives.”28 If manual

medicine is shown to be an effective yet inexpensive means to increase fertility rates in the infertile

population, then it could be considered as a primary treatment option for infertile women, rather

than as an alternative treatment option.

Conclusion

For 6 of the 10 women in the present case series report, fertility rates improved after manual therapy

was applied to the pelvic area. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of manual therapy as

a treatment option for infertile women. For future studies, researchers should use a larger study

population, include a control group, and assess the efficacy of the individual manual techniques.

Financial Disclosures: None reported.

10
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Accessed August 16, 2012.

2. Dey SK. How we are born. J Clin Invest. 2010;120(4):952-955.

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Bradshaw KD, Cunningham FG. Williams Gynecology. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2008:426.

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2: ART cycles using fresh, nondonor eggs or embryos (part A). Centers for Disease Control and

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Craniosacral Therapy. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press; 1996:131-151.

18. D’Ambrogio KJ, Roth GB. Positional Release Therapy. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 1997.

19. Beal MW. Women's use of complementary and alternative therapies in reproductive health care.

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20. Birkeflet O, Laake P, Vøllestad N. Traditional Chinese medicine patterns and recommended

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21. Cochrane S, Smith CA, Possamai-Inesedy A. Development of a fertility acupuncture protocol:

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22. Franconi G, Manni L, Aloe L, et al. Acupuncture in clinical and experimental reproductive

medicine: a review [published online ahead of print February 4, 2011]. J Endocrinol Invest.

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23. Bovey M, Lorenc A, Robinson N. Extent of acupuncture practice for infertility in the United

Kingdom: experiences and perceptions of the practitioners [published online ahead of print May 10,

2010]. Fertil Steril. 2010;94(7):2569-2573.

24. Wurn BF, Wurn LJ, King R, et al. Treating female infertility and improving IVF pregnancy rates

with a manual physical therapy technique. MedGenMed. 2004;6(2):51.

25. Barral JP, Croibier A. Visceral Vascular Manipulations. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone

Elsevier; 2011.

26. General principles. In: Stone CA. Visceral and Obstetric Osteopathy. New York, NY: Elsevier;

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27. Issack PS, Cunningham ME, Pumberger M, Hughes AP, Cammisa FP Jr. Degenerative lumbar

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CME Questions
1. Worldwide, what percentage of couples are infertile?
(a) 5%
(b) 22%
(c) 15%

13
(d) 33%

2. What percentage of fertile couples will conceive within a 3-month period?

14