Conclusion
The data trend across the pilot and present studies seems to support the hypothesis that this distinctive protocol of site-specific manual soft-tissue therapy facilitates fertility in women with a wide array of adhesion-related biomechanical dysfunctions. The major indication for its use is a history suggesting abdominopelvic adhesions (ie, prior surgery, infection, inflammation, or trauma at the reproductive organs or neighboring structures).
This innovative, noninvasive, nonsurgical, manual therapeutic technique confers little risk and few adverse side effects or complications, and appears to be an effective treatment for facilitating natural fertility and improving pregnancy rates/embryo transfer in women undergoing subsequent IVF. Thus, it can be prescribed as an alternative or complementary treatment to standard gynecologic care and should be considered as a new adjunct to existing medical infertility treatments.
Note: As this therapy was directed toward (female) mechanical infertility and would have no effect on male factor nor any anticipated effects on female medical/hormonal infertility (ie, diminished ovarian reserve, ovulatory dysfunction), the patients in this study were limited to those who reached the embryo transfer stage of the ART cycle. That is, they had progressed beyond the egg production, egg retrieval, and fertilization steps. Fresh, nondonor eggs/embryos were preferred not only by our patients but are used in approximately 75% of all ART cycles.[28]
We would like to thank Thom L. Tyler, MD, PhD, Gainesville, FL and Michael Davidson, DC (UK) for encouraging us in this endeavor. We also thank Gerald Wiechmann, PhD (former Sr. Health Research Advisor, NIH); Cynthia Hodgson, PT, PhD; Sandra Shevlin, DPT; and Kimberley Hornberger, PTA for research, writing, and editorial assistance. Lastly, we acknowledge the crucial contributions of Amy B. Hough, our meticulous research assistant.
Reprint AddressCorresponding Author: L.J. Wurn, Clear Passage Therapies, 3600 NW 43rd Street, Suite A-1, Gainesville FL 32606. www.clearpassage.com E-mail: cptherapy@aol.com
* 9/10 (90%) subjects who conceived had a full-term delivery.
Table 2.Pregnancies by Age Range
| Age Range | # of Subjects | # of Pregnancies | % Pregnant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25–30 | 3 | 3 | 100.0 |
| 31–45* | 11 | 7 | 63.6 |
| Total | 14 | 10 | 71.4 |
*The Mojzisovà study excluded women above age 30.
Table 3.Pregnancies/Deliveries by Age Group
| Age Group | # of Subjects | % Pregnant (n) | % Delivered (n) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 35 | 9 | 77.87 (7) | 66.7 (6) |
| 35+ | 5 | 60.0 (3) | 60.0 (3) |
| Total | 14 | 71.4 (10) | 64.3 (9) |
Table 4.Observed vs Expected Pregnancies
| Age | Transfers | Pregnancies | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | CDC 2001 Rate | Expected | ||
| < 35 | 15 | 11 (73%) | 47.7% | 7.15 |
| 35–37 | 6 | 4 (67%) | 42.0% | 2.52 |
| 38–40 | 5 | 3 (60%) | 33.8% | 1.69 |
| 41–42 | 4 | 3 (75%) | 23.6% | 0.94 |
| >42 | 3 | 1 (33%) | 12.1% | 0.36 |
| Total | 33 | 22 | 12.7 | |
Observed = rate for Manual pre-IVF treatment (study)
Expected = projected from CDC Figure 13[32]
(Expected = Transfers times published CDC 2001 probability. For example, the published CDC 2001 pregnancy rate for a <35 year old woman is 47.7%, hence with 15 transfers, one expects 15 x 0.477 = 7.15 pregnancies; the observed number was 11.)
Table 5.Observed vs Expected Live Births
| Age | Transfers | Live Births | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | CDC 2001 Rate | Expected | ||
| < 35 | 15 | 9 (60%) | 41.1% | 6.16 |
| 35–37 | 6 | 2 (33%) | 35.1% | 2.11 |
| 38–40 | 5 | 1 (20%) | 25.4% | 1.27 |
| 41–42 | 4 | 2 (20%) | 14.5% | 0.58 |
| >42 | 3 | 1 (33%) | 6.1% | 0.18 |
| Total | 33 | 15 | 10.3 | |
Observed = rate for Manual pre-IVF treatment (study)
Expected = projected from CDC National Summary, Figure 13.[29,32]
(Expected = Transfers times published CDC 2001 probability. For example, the published CDC 2001 live birth rate for a <35 year old woman is 41.1%, hence with 15 transfers, one expects 15 x 0.411 = 6.16 live births; the observed number was 9.)
© 2004 Medscape
Cite this: Treating Female Infertility and Improving IVF Pregnancy Rates With a Manual Physical Therapy Technique* - Medscape - Jun 21, 2004.
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