The Missing Test for Fertility
1 in 6 people will struggle with infertility at some point in their lives. Infertility is defined as trying to conceive without contraceptives for 12 months.
Couples struggling with infertility will go through multiple rounds of tests to try and determine the underlying cause of the infertility. Blood tests, ultrasounds, and semen analysis are some of the most common ways infertility is tested for. 1/3 of those couples will be told they are infertile for unknown reasons when each of those tests come back within “normal” ranges. This leaves couples feeling hopeless and at a loss for what steps to take next on their fertility journey. However, there is one system of the body no-one is looking at when it comes to fertility, the nervous system.
Nervous System Dysregulation
The nervous system plays a crucial role in reproductive health, however, it is not tested or even mentioned when talking about fertility in most doctor’s offices. A dysregulated nervous system is one of the root causes to infertility. This dysregulation can be called dysautonomia.
Dysautonomia is dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Dysfunction within the autonomic nervous system results in a variety of symptoms including hormonal imbalances, menstrual cycle irregularity, stress and anxiety, ovary dysfunction, irregular blood flow and uterine function, weight fluctuations and more.
A regulated nervous system
A well-regulated nervous system for the expected mom and dad is crucial when trying to conceive. The nervous system is the control center for all functions within the body. Specifically the autonomic nervous system (ANS), plays a crucial role in the preconception period. There are two main branches of the ANS; the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is also known as our “fight-flight” response. The activity of the sympathetic nervous system increases in times of heightened stress. The parasympathetic nervous system is known as our “rest-digest” response. After a moment of heightened stress, the parasympathetic system works to bring calm and rest back to the nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is mainly controlled by the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body with a wide variety of functions including: sensory, motor and autonomic function. Follow this link to read more about the vagus nerve.
It is crucial for the vagus nerve to be functioning properly when working on improving fertility. If the body is unable to get into a parasympathetic state, the body is unable to enter into a growth and development state. The growth and development state of being for mom, dad and baby’s nervous system is necessary in order to have a viable pregnancy.
Overall nervous system balance improves immune function, hormone balance, adaptability to stress and blood flow, creating the optimal environment to create and sustain new life.
THe missing Test: HRV
Now that we understand the importance of a well regulated nervous system the question comes to, How do I know if my nervous system is regulated or not?
Heart Rate Variability or HRV is a key metric to be measured when looking at nervous system regulation and fertility. Through the development of technology over the last few years HRV scans are able to share valuable insight on the state of the autonomic nervous system.
The scan looks mainly at the variation between heart beats to determine how well the nervous system is adapting to its current environment. The higher the HRV score the better the body is at adapting to stressors, which is associated with improved sleep, cardiovascular health, and immune function.
On the flipside the scan will also show whether the nervous system is worn out and stuck in a fight-flight state of being (sympathetic overdrive). If the body is stuck in sympathetic dominance, the nervous system thinks it is running from a bear, not focusing on creating and sustaining new life.
In our office, each patient who walks through the door will have their HRV measured along side two other neurological tests to determine the overall functioning state of the nervous system. Understanding the main operating state of the autonomic nervous system through the HRV scan and working to restore it back to a balanced state (via nervous system focused chiropractic adjustments) is the missing key to understanding and optimizing fertility.
Nervous system focused chiropractic care works with the body to optimize nervous system function. Each specific adjustment restores communication between the brain and the nerve that was altered due to built up stress within the system. By removing the interference, or stress build-up, the brain and body are able to send clear signals back and forth to each other again, restoring proper function within the body.
