Did you know it takes the “average” couple 5-6 months to get pregnant, and 1 in 6 couples experience infertility? It can affect both men and women, and many times it’s cited as “unknown” or unexplained. Fortunately, holistic approaches like osteopathy in Vancouver are helping individuals and couples improve their reproductive health naturally.
With a growing interest in natural fertility support, many couples are turning to osteopathy as a reliable option. This gentle, manual therapy works with the body’s natural ability to restore balance and function, offering support throughout the fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum journey.
In this article, we’ll explore how your osteopath can help naturally boost your fertility and reproductive health.
The link between reproductive health and osteopathy
Osteopathy is a holistic manual healthcare practice that treats your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, connective tissue, and internal organs. It focuses on the body’s innate ability to self-regulate and heal itself. Osteopathic techniques aim to improve circulation, body tension, and restore balance to your musculoskeletal system.
During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes that affect the functioning and alignment of these critical body systems. Osteopathy helps bring holistic balance to your musculoskeletal system.
For pregnancy, an osteopath can help:
- Calm your mind and body to reduce stress
- Align your reproductive system organs (pelvic region and lower back)
- Increase joint flexibility
- Boost blood circulation to your reproductive system
- Help relieve pregnancy aches and pains
- Calm round ligament pain in your belly
- Support your digestive system
To help you prepare for your baby’s birth, an osteopath can manipulate and balance your pelvic bones to prepare the birth canal for delivery.
Postpartum moms can continue to see their osteopath to:
- Realign their pelvis after birth
- Support the return of healthy menstruation
- Decrease stress
- Eliminate stress incontinence or constipation
- Find relief from new-parent aches and pains
- Support a healthy emotional state
Common women’s health and reproductive issues
Osteopathy supports many women’s health issues. By aligning your musculoskeletal systems, your osteopath can help you find relief or healing from:
- Painful or irregular periods
- Pelvic pain
- Endometriosis (along with other complementary health care)
- Weight management (to maintain a healthy conception and pregnancy weight)
- Boost blood flow and circulation of bodily fluids
- Hormone imbalances
Hormonal imbalances affect both men’s and women’s reproductive systems. In men, hormonal imbalances can decrease sex drive and lead to erectile dysfunction. In women, it can cause irregular menstrual cycles, low sex drive, and infertility. An osteopath can help couples balance their hormones, boosting their chances of a healthy conception and pregnancy.
What to expect during a reproductive health osteopathic appointment
Your first osteopathic appointment will typically be slightly longer than a regular session. Your practitioner will start by asking about your family medical history, current health, and wellness goals. This appointment may include a physical assessment as well.
Your osteopath will recommend a course of treatments to help you meet your reproductive health goals and plan an appointment frequency that works best for your schedule.
Subsequent treatments will likely begin with a brief check-in to see if anything has changed since your last appointment and to discuss any new concerns or pain that may have arisen. Then your practitioner will begin the gentle, non-invasive treatments that you need.
Be sure to ask about home care instructions, such as exercises or nutrition tips. Their suggestions will support your overall holistic wellness and complement your osteopathy treatments. For those seeking relief from menstruation or pregnancy pain, at-home care and exercises can help you find relief and support between appointments and throughout your cycle.
When to seek osteopathic care
Seeing an osteopath can be a proactive part of your general health and reproductive wellness routine. You can begin seeing an osteopath long before any official infertility diagnosis. It can help you with your preconception planning and help you get your body (and mind) as healthy as possible to make conception easier.
Let your osteopath know if you’re working with other health practitioners or fertility specialists. Osteopathic treatments and advice are typically safe to use with other therapies. Always let all your healthcare providers know so they can work together for your optimal wellness.
Boost your holistic fertility with osteopathy
Fertility treatments don’t have to include invasive procedures. Many couples find success boosting their fertility, reproductive health, and solving unexplained fertility problems with osteopathy. It focuses on bringing holistic balance to your musculoskeletal system.
If you plan to have children and want to ensure your body is aligned and ready for conception, book an appointment with your local osteopath today. Osteopaths help men and women with their reproductive health and fertility goals.
Whether you’re planning for your future family, are already pregnant and want to support a healthy pregnancy, or have birthed your baby and are looking for postpartum recovery support, learn what osteopathy can do for you.
Book a complementary fertility consultation at Thuja Wellness to learn how osteopathy can support your holistic and reproductive health.
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