Category Manual/osteopathic/chiropractic techniques MERCIÉR THERAPY HELPS INFERTILE WOMEN ACHIEVE PREGNANCY Merciér, J., Midwife, LMT, PhD; Mil er, K., LMT 1Merciér Therapy, Saint Charles, Il inois, USA; 2Sparks Women’s Center, Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA Introduction Among women ages 15–44, 6.7 mil ion have impaired ability to have children, 1.5 mil ion are infertile, and 7.4 mil ion have used infertility services in their lifetime (www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/fertile.htm). Now more than ever, women are having their fertility manipulated by reproductive endocrinology clinics and are undergoing multiple cycles without knowing the long-term effects of fertility drug use. Purpose/Aim Articles have been written about soft tissue abdominal and pelvic work al eviating fertility chal enges, but no clinical research has been performed. The purpose of this study is to confirm that the use of site- specific, manual soft tissue therapy is valid as a standalone treatment and with assisted reproductive technologies to help women become pregnant. The therapy used in this study is cal ed Merciér Therapy. It involves gentle manipulation of the uterus and/or massage on a consistent basis—normal y twelve sessions over a one-month period. Merciér Therapy not only addresses fertility chal enges but also improves soft tissue mobility and breaks down adhesions to relieve pelvic pain. Jennifer Merciér, the study’s author, practices in the Chicago area. But those living outside the area can benefit from her therapy as wel , being treated over a four-day weekend rather than a one-month period. Merciér also trains licensed professionals in performing Merciér Therapy. Visitto learn more about her technique and training. Materials and Methods Forty-eight women ages 28–42 were interviewed and underwent at least two sessions of Merciér Therapy in Mercier’s clinic in Il inois as well as the coauthor’s office in Arkansas. Both offices are holistic, clinical, multidisciplinary environments. The women selected for the study al complained of primary and secondary fertility chal enges regardless of age, current or past pathological condition, prior surgical intervention, prior treatment, and history of no treatment. Results Eighteen women achieved pregnancy within the first six months of their first Merciér Therapy sessions. Twenty-two women achieved pregnancy within one year of their first Merciér Therapy session. Eight women did not become pregnant. Of the forty women who became pregnant, thirty-two used Merciér Therapy as a standalone treatment; six used in-vitro fertilization; two used a combination of Clomid and intrauterine insemination. Relevance By educating participants about their fertility and cycles and using Merciér Therapy soft tissue manipulation to increase organ mobility and blood flow while enhancing optimal organ function, women responded very wel without use of heavy-handed reproductive methods. Conclusions Merciér Therapy has proven beneficial in helping couples to achieve pregnancy in a diverse group of women with various prior assisted reproductive technology backgrounds, ages, races, current pathologies, and medical histories. Discussion According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 147,260 assisted reproductive technology cycles were performed in the United States in 2010; 47,090 live births occurred—31.9% (www.cdc.gov/art). Why settle for mediocrity? In this study, Merciér Therapy helped 83% of participants achieve pregnancy; 80% of those women used Merciér Therapy exclusively. When used in conjunction with medical fertility treatments for the remaining participants, Merciér Therapy shortened the number of cycles, achieving pregnancy sooner than with fertility treatments alone. Implications This study reveals that fertility does not need to be medical y manipulated in al cases. Medical fertility treatments bypass the core problem of poor reproductive organ function. Merciér Therapy creates more
blood flow and mobility of the uterus, ovaries, and tubes, going to the source of the chal enge and helping to fix it, gently and effectively. Keywords conception, infertility, Merciér Therapy, pregnancy, reproduction, soft tissue manipulation
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