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Category: Dysmenorrhea Menstrual Pain

  • Julianne Hough’s Late Endometriosis Diagnosis – A Decade of Suffering

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    There’s a growing awareness surrounding endometriosis, and the case of Julianne Hough highlights the challenges many face before receiving a proper diagnosis. You may find it shocking that a talented celebrity like Hough endured nearly ten years of pain and uncertainty before understanding her condition. This blog post probes into her journey, shedding light on the symptoms and experiences that resonate with countless individuals, ultimately advocating for better awareness and support for those suffering in silence.

    A Journey Through Pain: Julianne’s Decade of Unrecognized Symptoms

    Over ten years, Julianne Hough faced a myriad of symptoms ranging from debilitating pelvic pain to extreme fatigue, each indicating a deeper issue that went unacknowledged. As a high-profile performer, she often pushed through the discomfort to maintain her career, masking the severity of her condition. The relentless pain became an invisible burden, influencing not only her physical well-being but also her mental health and daily activities.

    Early Signs and Ignored Warnings

    Your body sends alarming signals that shouldn’t be overlooked. For Julianne, symptoms like severe cramps during her menstrual cycle and gastrointestinal issues were brushed aside, often attributed to common stressors or lifestyle factors. Without proper validation, the gradual worsening of her condition continued unrecognized, ultimately complicating her health journey.

    The Impact of Delayed Diagnosis on Quality of Life

    Delayed diagnosis can severely diminish your quality of life, as evidenced by Julianne’s struggle. Persistent pain and unaddressed symptoms led to anxiety, depression, and a sense of isolation. Social engagements became challenging, and her career performance was impacted, resulting in a dangerous cycle of avoidance and increased suffering.

    The consequences of a delayed diagnosis are often profound, affecting not just physical health but also mental well-being. Without timely intervention, individuals like you can find themselves grappling with an array of challenges, from social withdrawal to professional setbacks. Julianne’s journey reflects a common struggle: the frustration of being misunderstood and the silent suffering that comes from living with untreated symptoms. Increased awareness and education about conditions such as endometriosis could encourage individuals to seek help sooner, potentially mitigating long-term repercussions on their lives.

    Breaking the Silence: The Stigma of Endometriosis

    Silence permeates the discourse around endometriosis, often shrouded in stigma that discourages open conversation. Many women suffer in isolation due to fear of judgment or a lack of understanding from peers and healthcare providers. This reticence prevents sufferers from seeking help and sharing their pain, perpetuating a cycle of misinformation and neglect in women’s health.

    Misconceptions Surrounding Women’s Health Issues

    Your perceptions of women’s health issues may be clouded by stereotypes and misconceptions. Common myths suggest that menstrual pain is normal or dismissible, which undermines the reality that conditions like endometriosis can cause debilitating pain and complications. This trivialization hinders accurate diagnosis and effective treatment options, leaving many to struggle in silence.

    Celebrity Advocates and Raising Awareness

    High-profile advocates like Julianne Hough amplify the conversation around endometriosis, helping to destigmatize the condition. With their platforms, they can draw attention to the struggles many face, inspiring others to speak out about their experiences and seek help.

    Julianne Hough’s public disclosure of her endometriosis journey encourages others to confront their health issues openly. Celebrities discussing their struggles promote awareness and educate the public about symptoms, treatment options, and the emotional toll of the condition. Their influence can shift societal perceptions, leading people to acknowledge that endometriosis is a genuine issue requiring serious attention and compassionate treatment, not just casual discussion or dismissal.

    The Medical Maze: Navigating Misdiagnoses and Treatments

    Navigating the medical landscape can feel like wandering through a maze, especially when faced with an endometriosis diagnosis. From dismissive doctors to misunderstandings of symptoms, many experience years of wandering before finding the right path to treatment. Often, you may encounter various health professionals who contribute to the confusion, prescribing treatments that fail to address the core issue. Only through persistence can you find a specialist who understands the complexities of endometriosis and is equipped to guide you towards effective management options.

    Common Misdiagnoses and Their Implications

    Misdiagnoses frequently occur in endometriosis patients, with conditions like ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, and pelvic inflammatory disease often mistaken for its symptoms. Such misunderstandings can lead to inappropriate treatments, prolonging pain and suffering. You may undergo unnecessary surgeries or receive medications that don’t adequately address the underlying issue, further complicating your health journey.

    Common misdiagnoses can significantly affect your health trajectory. For instance, many women are told their symptoms stem from gastrointestinal issues, delaying appropriate endometriosis treatment by years. This not only prolongs physical discomfort but can also lead to emotional distress, impacting overall well-being. The reliance on general practitioners, unfamiliar with endometriosis complexities, often results in a lack of timely intervention, fueling frustration and hopelessness as you navigate conflicting diagnoses. Awareness of these common pitfalls can help you advocate more effectively for your health and prompt necessary evaluations sooner.

    Finding Hope: Julianne’s Path to Diagnosis and Treatment

    Julianne Hough’s journey toward diagnosis and treatment offers hope to those living with similar struggles. Faced with relentless pain and uncertainty, she explored various medical opinions and treatments until finally uncovering the root cause of her suffering. This commitment to understanding her body and seeking answers underscores the importance of persistence in the face of medical challenges.

    The Diagnostic Process and Key Discoveries

    The diagnostic process for Julianne was extensive and often frustrating. After years of misdiagnosis and overlooked symptoms, she underwent a laparoscopy, which revealed endometriosis lesions. Hormonal treatments were then introduced, highlighting a vital turning point in recognizing the condition and leading to a clearer understanding of her body’s needs.

    Exploring Treatment Options: From Pain Management to Surgery

    Julianne’s exploration of treatment options encompassed everything from lifestyle adjustments and pain management techniques to significant surgical interventions. Once the endometriosis diagnosis was confirmed, a tailored approach involving hormonal therapy and, if necessary, surgery became important for managing her symptoms and improving her quality of life.

    For many, the treatment landscape for endometriosis can be overwhelming. Options include hormonal medications that can help control symptoms and minimize the growth of lesions, as well as dietary changes that may alleviate discomfort. Surgical options, such as laparoscopic excision of endometriosis, often provide relief and can enhance fertility prospects. Each treatment choice reflects a partnership between you and your healthcare provider, ensuring that your unique experience and symptoms are addressed in a comprehensive manner.

    When endometriosis lesions trigger constant pain, bloating, or that deep pulling sensation that makes even simple movement uncomfortable, it’s easy to feel like surgery is the only way forward. Clear Passage® Physical Therapy offers another route—one that aims to gently loosen the adhesions and restrictions caused by those lesions rather than cutting through them. Their manual therapy approach works almost like softening hardened glue, helping tissues glide again so your organs aren’t fighting against tight, stuck layers. Many women who were told to “prepare for surgery” discover that this hands-on therapy can reduce pain, restore mobility, and improve pelvic function without the risks, scars, or recovery time that come with an operating room. For those looking to avoid repeat surgeries or find a natural, lasting solution, Clear Passage® becomes a smart, research-supported alternative worth exploring.

    A Call to Action: Educating and Empowering Women

    Fostering awareness about endometriosis is vital in shifting the narrative surrounding women’s health issues. Educating yourself and others can lead to earlier diagnoses, better treatment options, and a supportive community. Empowerment comes from understanding your body and advocating for your health, which can significantly improve your quality of life and the lives of those around you.

    Importance of Self-Advocacy in Healthcare

    Taking charge of your healthcare journey is imperative. You possess the right to question medical advice and seek further opinions if you feel unheard. Well-informed patients are often more successful in receiving appropriate treatment, as proactive self-advocacy enables you to navigate complex medical systems confidently.

    Resources for Awareness and Support

    Various organizations and online platforms provide valuable resources for those affected by endometriosis. Websites like Endometriosis Foundation of America, World Endometriosis Society, and social media groups can connect you with others experiencing similar challenges, offering education, community support, and encouragement.

    Engaging with organizations like the Endometriosis Foundation of America grants access to educational tools, support groups, and resources that can guide you through your experience. They often host events and webinars, making it easier to connect with leading experts in the field and learn about the latest research and treatments. Additionally, community forums can facilitate sharing personal experiences and strategies for managing symptoms, fostering a collaborative environment for women to support one another in their journeys.

    Conclusion

    Drawing together the insights from Julianne Hough’s late endometriosis diagnosis, you can see how delayed recognition can impact your well-being. Understanding your symptoms and advocating for your health is paramount, as early intervention can significantly alter your experience. Hough’s journey underscores the importance of listening to your body and seeking answers, which can empower you to navigate your own health challenges more effectively and advocate for necessary medical attention.

    If you’ve been told surgery is the next step for your endometriosis lesions, it’s worth taking a breath and exploring a gentler option first. Clear Passage® Physical Therapy focuses on manually easing the adhesions that those lesions create—helping reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore comfort without incisions or downtime. Many women come in feeling scared of another operation and walk away relieved to learn their body can respond to a non-surgical approach. Think of it like giving your tissues the freedom to move again instead of cutting through them. If you’re looking for a safe, natural way to break the cycle of recurring surgeries, Clear Passage® offers a practical path toward long-term relief.

  • Understanding and Managing Abdominal Pain: A Comprehensive Guide

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    “Abdominal pain is a common complaint that can range from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain. At Clear Passage® Physical Therapy, we understand the impact that persistent abdominal pain can have on your quality of life. Our approach focuses on non-surgical and drug-free methods to address the root causes of abdominal pain caused by abdominal adhesions and provide lasting relief.”

    What Causes Lower Abdominal Pain in Females Not Pregnant?

    An image of a women with abdominal cramps and pain.
    Abdominal Cramps and Pain

    Lower abdominal pain in non-pregnant females can have various causes:

    1. Surgical Adhesions – The Wurn Technique® addresses adhesions and scar tissue throughout the body, providing relief for various conditions, including chronic pain, infertility, and bowel obstructions.
    2. Menstrual Cramps – A non-surgical, drug-free treatment approach for menstrual pain, focusing on addressing adhesions and providing manual therapy techniques to alleviate symptoms and improve women’s reproductive health.
    3. Ovulation Pain – Ovulation pain can be significantly reduced by our therapy, particularly for women with endometriosis, as their approach focuses on manually breaking down internal adhesions (scar tissue) that can attach to the ovaries and hinder ovulation, causing pain
    4. Endometriosis – The Clear Passage® Approach to treat endometriosis pain has been shown in peer-reviewed studies to be as effective as surgical treatment in reducing menstrual and intercourse pain, while also improving overall sexual function.
    5. Urinary Tract Infections – A urinary tract infection (UTI) essentially means that urine is clear and free of cloudiness, which is often a sign that a bacterial infection is not present; however, even clear urine cannot completely rule out a UTI, and a proper diagnosis usually requires a urine test to confirm the presence of bacteria.

    It’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the exact cause and appropriate treatment.

    Why Do I Have Stomach Cramps Every Day?

    Experiencing daily stomach cramps can be distressing. Common reasons include:

    1. Chronic Digestive Disorders (e.g., IBS, Crohn’s disease)
    2. Food Intolerances or Allergies
    3. Stress and Anxiety
    4. Hormonal Imbalances
    5. Adhesions from Previous Surgeries or Infections

    At Clear Passage® Physical Therapy, we specialize in identifying and treating underlying causes of chronic abdominal pain without resorting to surgery or medications. Please see a medical professional for Chronic Digestive Disorders, Food Intolerances or allergies, and stress/anxiety. Call Clear Passage® for help relieving stomach cramps due to adhesions from previous surgery, infection, or radiation.

    Abdominal Cramps and Pain

    Lower Abdominal Pain

    Lower abdominal pain often involves the area below the belly button. Causes may include:

    • Appendicitis
    • Bladder issues
    • Gynecological problems
    • Lower intestinal disorders

    Upper Abdominal Pain

    Pain in the upper abdomen can be related to:

    • Gallbladder issues
    • Liver problems
    • Pancreatitis
    • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

    Epigastric Region Pain

    The epigastric region is located in the upper central part of the abdomen. Pain in this area may be due to:

    • Gastritis
    • Peptic ulcers
    • Hiatal hernia
    • Heart-related issues (in some cases)

    Stomach Inflammation Symptoms

    Stomach inflammation, or gastritis, can cause various symptoms:

    1. Burning sensation in the upper abdomen
    2. Nausea and vomiting
    3. Bloating and fullness
    4. Loss of appetite
    5. Indigestion

    Abdominal Cramping After Eating

    Experiencing abdominal cramps after meals can be frustrating. Possible causes include:

    1. Food Intolerances (e.g., lactose or gluten)
    2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    3. Gastritis or Peptic Ulcers
    4. Gallbladder Problems
    5. Pancreatic Insufficiency

    Abdominal Pain Remedies

    At Clear Passage® Physical Therapy, we believe in the power of natural, non-invasive treatments for abdominal pain. Here are some effective remedies:

    Natural Relief for Stomach Pain

    1. Heat Therapy: Apply a warm compress to the affected area
    2. Abdominal Massage Therapy in the case of Adhesions
    3. Peppermint or Chamomile Tea
    4. Proper Hydration
    5. Stress-Reduction Techniques (e.g., deep breathing, meditation)

    Homeopathic Remedies for Abdominal Pain

    While we don’t prescribe medications, some patients find relief with homeopathic remedies such as:

    1. Nux Vomica for indigestion and cramping
    2. Colocynthis for severe cramping pain
    3. Magnesia Phosphorica for menstrual cramps
    4. Arsenicum Album for food poisoning symptoms

    It’s important to consult with a qualified homeopathic practitioner before using these remedies.

    At Clear Passage® Physical Therapy, we offer specialized manual therapy techniques that address adhesions, scar tissue, and other underlying causes of abdominal pain. Our approach is tailored to each patient’s unique needs, providing relief without the use of drugs or surgery.

    If you are struggling with abdominal pain after surgery or because of bowel obstruction, we invite you to explore our non-invasive, all-natural treatment options. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you achieve lasting relief and improved quality of life.

    Contact Clear Passage® Physical Therapy today to learn more about how we can help you overcome abdominal pain and regain your health naturally.

  • Alternative Infertility Treatments

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    Women who are trying to conceive a pregnancy can face hurdles, especially in today’s world of hectic schedules, delayed childbearing, and increasing challenges with infertility. In vitro fertilization, also known as IVF, can be a valuable method for many women who struggle with infertility. However, IVF alone is not guaranteed success in achieving a pregnancy, with success rates of 20 to 25 percent.

    Many women struggling with infertility and considering IVF wonder if there is any clinical evidence to support alternative infertility treatments. What they may not realize is that there are a number of these alternative methods available—including three that have been backed by peer-reviewed studies. One of these methods, known as Clear Passage® physical therapy, has been shown to help improve the reproductive health of women rendered relatively infertile due to a history of blocked fallopian tubes or endometriosis.

    Read on to learn more about the alternative infertility treatments that are available and scientifically supported, including behavioral counseling, acupuncture, and Clear Passage® physical therapy.

    Using Behavioral Counseling as an Alternative Infertility Treatment

    The struggle of infertility and the impacts of infertility on psychological well-being have been likened by some researchers to the impacts of a cancer diagnosis. Studying the connection between stress and infertility is difficult, as it evokes a chicken-and-egg dynamic. Infertility itself has been shown to cause stress and anxiety among women trying to conceive. That stress and anxiety may then exacerbate an underlying infertility condition, though this connection is not definitive.

    Cognitive behavioral therapy (also known as CBT) has been shown to help reduce anxiety and stress among infertile women. For example, Harvard scientist Alice Domar showed that when infertile women received 2 hours of a CBT group intervention weekly, for ten weeks, they experienced significant psychological improvement.

    Outside of improving stress during an infertile period, cognitive behavioral therapy has been associated with an increase in pregnancy rates. Other researchers have examined the positive effects of counseling methods such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, emotion-focused, and problem-focused coping, relaxation, and support groups; however, CBT appears to be the most scientifically robust when it comes to reducing mental distress and boosting clinical pregnancy rates.

    Using Acupuncture as an Alternative Infertility Treatment

    Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine tradition that involves the placement of thin needles at specific points along the body to restore the balance of energy (Qi) within the body. Within the infertility treatment field, acupuncture performed directly before an IVF embryo transfer has been reported to increase IVF pregnancy rates, and other variations of this practice (such as acupuncture before and after treatment) have been advocated for, as well.

    Scientists have studied acupuncture as both a primary alternative infertility treatment and as an adjunctive treatment for increasing the success of IVF. It is helpful in both arenas, with scientists pointing to specific mechanisms such as improved uterine and ovarian blood flow, modulation of the central and peripheral nervous systems, and modulation of the psychiatric and immune systems. A systematic review found that clinical pregnancy rates were higher in groups of study participants who received acupuncture when compared to control or sham groups. However, the significance of the findings was limited by data quality.

    One case study showed that acupuncture helped improve the sperm quality of a male after four treatments and reduce the presence of ovarian cysts in his female partner after seven treatments, resulting in a successful pregnancy after a year of trying to conceive unsuccessfully.

    Using Clear Passage® Physical Therapy as an Alternative Infertility Treatment

    An image of Belinda Wurn treating a patient with back pain.
    Belinda Treating Back Pain

    Clear Passage® Physical Therapy is a manual physical therapy method that focuses on reducing the adhesions that can form within a woman’s abdominal and pelvic cavities due to infection, inflammation, endometriosis, or prior surgeries. This specific physical therapy method can reduce mechanical pain caused by adhesions and improve conditions such as female infertility. As such, it can be a valuable alternative infertility treatment, and it has been backed by scientific evidence.

    Understanding the Basic Principles of Clear Passage® Physical Therapy

    To understand how manual physical therapy—also known as the Clear Passage® approach or Wurn technique—can be a scientifically-backed alternative infertility treatment, it helps to have a basic primer on the most common reasons for female infertility. A condition known as “tubal factor infertility,” or a blocked fallopian tube or tubes, accounts for 25 to 35 percent of all cases of female infertility, per the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Anatomically speaking, the fallopian tubes provide the connection between a woman’s two ovaries and her uterus. To allow for conception and implantation during a woman’s fertile window, an egg must pass from an ovary, through a fallopian tube (where it may become fertilized by a sperm cell), and then proceed into the body of the uterus, where it must implant into the uterine lining. When a fallopian tube is blocked, both fertilization of the egg and the egg’s journey to the uterus can be prevented.

    A common culprit when it comes to a blocked fallopian tube is adhesions. Adhesions are band-like strips of scar tissue that can be sticky and cause internal organs to stick together. Adhesions can also wrap around critical reproductive organs, such as the fallopian tubes, preventing them from being functional. Many women are entirely unaware that they have adhesions until they begin trying to become pregnant. Their adhesions may have formed from a former sexually transmitted infection or from an operation such as an appendix removal. Regardless of their precipitating cause, adhesions that involve the fallopian tubes or surrounding structures can cause tubal factor infertility, making it more difficult, or impossible, for a woman to become pregnant. Women can overcome this obstruction through a procedure to unblock the tube, or by removing the tube and undergoing an IVF treatment; however, both options are invasive. A natural, alternative way of reducing the blockage caused by adhesions is Clear Passage® Physical Therapy. This manual technique can help reduce adhesions and unblock fallopian tubes in a non-invasive way, therefore improving a woman’s fertility and probability of achieving a successful pregnancy.

    How Does Clear Passage® Physical Therapy Work?

    The scientifically backed physical therapy technique known as the Wurn technique, or Clear Passage® approach, helps unblock fallopian tubes by gently focusing on areas in the abdominal or pelvic regions that may be obstructed by adhesions or microadhesions. When adhesions become untwisted, a fallopian tube can become unkinked, and it can return to its critical role as a hollow passageway between an egg, a sperm cell, and the uterus. Co-developed by Lawrence and Belinda Wurn, the Wurn technique is supported by scientific data, and it is cited in many academic research papers. When technique practitioners are highly trained in specific manual maneuvers applied to a woman’s abdominal or pelvic cavities, they can successfully release a woman’s superficial and/or deep adhesions that may be impeding her reproductive function. When these adhesions are released, it stimulates the blood flow and lymph drainage of the essential reproductive organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus, thereby enhancing a woman’s chance of a successful conception.

    The Clear Passage® program has a pre-defined structure that allows it to be scientifically analyzed, validated, and implemented consistently at locations throughout North America and the United Kingdom. The usual Clear Passage® treatment course requires 20 hours of therapy, which is usually distributed across five days. This enables the entire physical therapy course to be completed within a business week, making it ideal for people who must travel to reach a treatment site or who are looking to take time off from a busy schedule to complete the treatment.

    What Does Scientific Research Say About the Clear Passage® Physical Method?

    The Clear Passage® physical therapy approach has been scientifically evaluated for its impact on infertility success rates. Researchers who conducted a ten-year retrospective chart review found that the Clear Passage® manual physical therapy approach successfully cleared occluded fallopian tubes in 60.85 percent of patients. Of those patients, 56.64% were able to achieve a pregnancy. The success rate of opening blocked fallopian tubes is even higher for women who have never had surgery on their tubes, at 68.9 percent.

    For the subset of patients who suffered from endometriosis and likely had endometriosis-associated adhesions, researchers in the 10-year retrospective study found that 42.81 percent were able to achieve a successful pregnancy after the clear passage approach. A pregnancy rate of 39.3 percent was also realized in patients who had infertility due to advanced maternal age (AMA) as measured by high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels.

    Using Clear Passage® Physical Therapy as an IVF Adjunctive Therapy

    The Clear Passage® method can be used as a primary alternative to other, more invasive infertility treatments. However, Clear Passage® is not used exclusively for women with infertility who are seeking natural fertility-enhancing options. Similar to the use of acupuncture as an adjunctive method for improving the success rates of IVF treatments, the Clear Passage® method can also help improve IVF success rates, as well. For example, reproductive health specialists have found that combining manual physical therapy techniques such as the Wurn technique with a traditional IVF treatment course can enhance an infertile woman’s chances of successfully conceiving a pregnancy. Implementing manual physical therapy that targets adhesions before an IVF embryo transfer can improve the odds of a successful pregnancy by an impressive 50 percent. Researchers have also found that, in at least one case, a woman who underwent Clear Passage® manual physical therapy before IVF not only benefited from having a successful IVF pregnancy, but she also went on to have a successful natural pregnancy subsequently, which suggests that the effect of unblocking the fallopian tube via manual physical therapy was long-lasting.

    Other Benefits of Clear Passage® Physical Therapy

    The Clear Passage® manual physical therapy approach is a valuable alternative infertility treatment for women struggling to conceive, and it can also improve the odds that a woman achieves a pregnancy using an IVF conception method. However, Clear Passage® physical therapy has myriad other positive benefits, as well. For women who struggle with endometriosis, Clear Passage® Physical Therapy has been shown to decrease pain with sex and painful menstrual cycles. Research published in the Journal of Endometriosis showed that in two independent studies, manual physiotherapy was a non-surgical and non-pharmacologic treatment option, with statistically significant improvements in pain scales reported by women who received the therapy, with improvements persisting after 12 months. Fifty percent of patients reported complete resolution of their pain symptoms. Outside of the world of gynecology, the Clear Passage® physical therapy approach has also helped prevent the recurrence of small bowel obstructions and improve the quality of life in patients who suffer from recurrent bowel obstructions, as well as children who suffer from chronic constipation.

    How to Learn More About Alternative Infertility Treatments Backed by Scientific Research

    Women who struggle with infertility can sometimes feel as though they must make a difficult choice between doing nothing to improve their condition or pursuing a physically invasive treatment method such as a surgical procedure. However, there are alternative infertility treatment methods that have passed scientific muster that are available to women who would like a more natural way to boost their fertility. These options include behavior therapy (like CBT), acupuncture, and manual physical therapy of the abdominopelvic region, such as the Clear Passage® approach. These alternative infertility treatment methods can also help improve a woman’s odds of successfully conceiving a pregnancy within the context of an assisted reproductive regimen, such as IVF. Of these alternative infertility options, the method of manual physical therapy can also provide other benefits, such as decreased pain with sex and menstrual pain for women with endometriosis, as well as unblocking a fallopian tube to create an enduring improvement in fertility.


    To learn more about the Clear Passage® program, request a free consultation today.

    References:

    1. The relationship between stress and infertility. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016043/
    2. What Psychiatric Interventions Are Used for Anxiety Disorders in Infertile Couples? A Systematic Review Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6702283/
    3. The impact of group psychological interventions on distress in infertile women. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11129360/
    4. The efficacy of psychological interventions for infertile patients: a meta-analysis examining mental health and pregnancy rate. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19196795/
    5. Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for psychological and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women and men: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316425/
    6. Acupuncture Treatment for Fertility. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30337989/
    7. Acupuncture for infertility: Is it an effective therapy? https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11655-011-0611-8
    8. Acupuncture as Treatment for Female Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8865966/
    9. The effect of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer on the in vitro fertilization outcomes: An RCT. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7142313/
    10. Effectiveness of acupuncture on pregnancy success rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled trial. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1028455920300188?via%3Dihub
    11. Role of tubal surgery in the era of assisted reproductive technology: a committee opinion. https://www.asrm.org/globalassets/asrm/asrm-content/news-and-publications/practice-guidelines/for-non-members/role_of_tubal_surgery_in_the_era_of_art.pdf
    12. Ten-Year Retrospective Study on the Efficacy of Manual Physical Therapy to Treat Female Infertility. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25691329/
    13. Treating Female Infertility and Improving IVF Pregnancy Rates with a Manual Physical Therapy Technique. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1395760/?report=printable
    14. Decreasing Dyspareunia and Dysmenorrhea in Women with Endometriosis via a Manual Physical Therapy*: Results from Two Independent Studies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6154826/#abs3-JE.2012.9088title
    15. Visceral and Neural Manipulation in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Chronic Constipation: Five Case Reports. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830718301927

  • Understanding Secondary Infertility: 10 Key Factors to Consider

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    Secondary infertility can be a puzzling and emotional journey for many women who have previously conceived easily. If you find yourself in this situation, you might be wondering, “Why am I now having trouble getting pregnant?” In this article, we’ll break down ten key factors that our therapists examine when working with women experiencing secondary infertility. Understanding these factors can help shed light on potential causes and guide you towards the right solutions.

    1. C-Section:

    Have you had a previous C-section? While c-sections are often necessary for safe deliveries, they can lead to adhesions and scar tissue. These can block your fallopian tubes or hinder proper implantation, making it harder to conceive.

    1. Episiotomy:

    Did you have an episiotomy during childbirth? The scar from an episiotomy can cause adhesions that reach into your vagina and cervix, making your cervix stiff and preventing sperm from passing through effectively.

    1. Hormonal Changes:

    Have your hormone levels been checked since giving birth? Pregnancy and aging can bring about hormonal changes that might affect your fertility. Keep an eye on any changes in your menstrual cycle, such as increased heaviness or alterations in the number of days.

    1. Surgeries:

    Have you undergone any surgeries since your last pregnancy? Surgeries can lead to the formation of adhesions that impair fertility, so it’s essential to consider this aspect.

    1. Trauma:

    Have you experienced any traumatic events like car accidents, falls, or abuse? These events can result in long-lasting injuries, pelvic imbalances, and adhesions, which may negatively impact your fertility.

    1. Infection:

    Have you had bladder, vaginal, or yeast infections since your last pregnancy? Infections can cause adhesions to develop in the delicate structures of the female pelvis, potentially affecting fertility in various ways.

    1. Inflammation:

    Have you been diagnosed with new inflammatory conditions like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)? Inflammation can directly lead to the formation of adhesions, which can, in turn, impact your fertility.

    1. Pelvic or Back Pain:

     Have you experienced hip, back, or pelvic pain since pregnancy? Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something is wrong. Pelvic pain, for instance, could be related to infertility, such as a hip injury near the fallopian tubes.

    1. Sexual Dysfunction or Intercourse

    Pain: Have you encountered any sexual dysfunction or pain during intercourse since pregnancy? Problems like decreased desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, or satisfaction may indicate the presence of adhesions in the reproductive tract, potentially causing infertility.

    1. Ovulation or Menstrual

    Pain: Have you noticed any new ovulation or menstrual pain since your last pregnancy? Ovulation pain can be a sign that adhesions are restricting proper ovarian function. New menstrual pain may suggest adhesions around the uterus, hindering proper implantation.

    Conclusion:

    Experiencing secondary infertility can be frustrating and confusing, but by exploring these ten key factors, you can gain a better understanding of potential causes. If you’re concerned about your fertility, consult with a healthcare professional or fertility specialist who can help you navigate this challenging journey and explore possible solutions tailored to your unique situation. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey, and there is support and guidance available to help you achieve your dream of expanding your family.

  • Sexual Health in Women Experiencing Sexual Pain: The Answer

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    Women who don’t experience pleasure during sexual intercourse often suffer alone because they don’t know where to turn for help. For one, it may be hard for them to define the problem—they may not know what type of experience they’re searching for or how to get there, especially if they’ve never experienced an orgasm. For other women, sexual intercourse frequently causes discomfort or outright pain, which can quickly diminish any pleasure involved in the experience. This pain during sex can be difficult or embarrassing to discuss with a partner, let alone a medical provider.

    The ability to experience sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction is crucial to a woman’s health and well-being. Having sex without pain is also a critical part of having a high quality of life. For this reason, experts classify this sexual dysfunction as a significant public health burden.

    Unfortunately, too many women have painful sex (dyspareunia). These are lackluster or non-existent orgasms. If they have sought help in the past for their sexual concerns, they may have received non-constructive feedback, such as “it’s all in your head”, leaving them without a concrete solution.

    If any of the above conditions sound familiar, you are not alone; in fact, a large proportion of women suffer from sexual concerns. Here’s what you need to know about the problem of sexual dysfunction in women and what the research says about improving your sex life for the better.

    Clear Passage® Wurn Technique® Therapy: The Pain-Free, Non-Medical, Non-Surgical Answer You Have Needed for Your Sexual Pain.

    Prescription and counseling-based treatments for female sexual dysfunction often leave women with inadequate improvement in their symptoms. However, physical therapy that focuses specifically on pelvic health can play a substantial role in improving sexual function. Pelvic physical therapy can help improve sexual function for women who struggle with painful sex, vaginismus, and pelvic pain, in addition to helping with other conditions that can contribute to sexual dysfunction, such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

    Recent research from the Journal of Sexual Medicine Reviews notes that pelvic floor physical therapy can successfully resolve any sexual dysfunction condition. 

    Before diving into the Clear Passage® Approach, let’s understand the problem.

    What is Female Sexual Dysfunction?

    The phenomenon of female sexual dysfunction refers to a woman’s subjective experience in a sexual encounter, either alone or with a partner. A satisfactory sexual experience looks different for every woman, and some women can have a satisfying sexual experience despite a missing aspect of their sexual function. However, when a woman consistently classifies a sexual experience as being suboptimal, especially if it falls short compared to her previous experiences or a previous state of health, then the concept of sexual dysfunction comes into play.

    The Scope of the Problem — Sexual Dysfunction in Women

    Female sexual dysfunction is widespread, with some researchers estimating it to affect more than 40 percent of premenopausal women around the globe. Unfortunately, when dealing with a sexual dysfunction condition, it does not occur in an isolated vacuum. Sexual health concerns can carry over into other aspects of your life, including self-image, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and even psychological health. Experts have found that up to 12 percent of women experience personal or interpersonal distress stemming from their sexual problems. 

    Furthermore, sexual dysfunction can stem from issues with several body systems, as sexual health is informed by a delicate dance between different organs. 

    The Neurological Component

    A primary sexual organ, the brain, is highly involved in contributing to a woman’s ability to reach a state of lubrication and arousal. Hence, a functional neurological system is essential for a robust sex life. 

    The Vascular & Hormonal Components

    The vascular and endocrine systems are also involved in a woman’s sexual response, and problems with either of these systems can also contribute to sexual dysfunction. 

    The Psychological Component

    The third aspect of the sexual response is psychological, especially when a woman has a history of experiencing sexual trauma or abuse.

    What are the Six Defining Domains of Sexual Function?

    Researchers who study sexual function and treatments used to improve sexual function often use a classification system that involves the following six domains: 

    1. Desire
    2. Arousal
    3. Orgasm
    4. Pain
    5. Lubrication
    6. Satisfaction. 

    These domains align with the six more common disorders of sexual function:

    • Hypoactive sexual desire disorder
    • Female sexual arousal disorder
    • Lubrication difficulties
    • Female orgasmic disorder
    • Sexual aversion disorder
    • Pain disorders

    Here’s what you need to know about each of the domains of sexual function and how they relate to one another.

    Desire

    Your sexual desire, also known as your “sex drive” or “libido,” is influenced by many factors, including your hormones. In men, the testosterone hormone is an integral component of sexual desire. However, testosterone is also present in lower levels in women, and it also contributes to sexual desire and other hormones such as dopamine, estrogen, and progesterone.

    When women have low sexual desire, they often experience a lack of interest in initiating or pursuing sexual relationships, despite a physical ability to have sexual intercourse, and they may not have sexual fantasies.

    Sexual desire is often the primary determinant of the cascade of sexual function domains. A lack of sexual desire is highly connected with a woman’s ability to become aroused and achieve adequate lubrication, which can inhibit her ability to orgasm or experience sexual satisfaction. It may also contribute to her having pain with intercourse.

    Your sexual desire can fluctuate throughout your lifetime, varying with your state of life, physical health, partner, and other external conditions. The condition of low sexual desire in women is officially known as “hypoactive sexual desire disorder,” or HSDD. Researchers estimate that HSDD may be present in up to a third of adult women; however, fewer than half of women ever seek evaluation for their lack of sexual desire.

    Arousal

    When a woman has a problem with sexual arousal, she may very well desire to have sex; however, she cannot achieve a state of arousal. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, this condition, known officially as female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD), affects 6 to 21 percent of women. Experts note that FSAD can occur from a variety of conditions, including:

    • A lack of the hormone estrogen.
    • A vascular condition.
    • Difficulties perceiving sensation.
    • Interpersonal difficulties.

    Lubrication

    Sexual desire and arousal contribute to a woman’s ability to become adequately lubricated in anticipation of sexual intercourse. However, it’s possible to desire sexual activity, become aroused, and yet still not produce adequate lubrication. For many women, lubrication decreases, and vaginal dryness increases with age, particularly after menopause. When a woman does not have enough physiologic lubrication produced during sexual activity, it can cause her pain and further her sexual dysfunction.

    Orgasm

    An orgasm is considered the pinnacle of a sexual encounter for both men and women. However, many women struggle to have an orgasm during sexual encounters. Experts qualify a lack of orgasms as a condition known as “female orgasmic disorder.” 

    It is defined as:

    • The lack of orgasm.
    • Delay of orgasm.
    • The infrequency of orgasm.
    • Marked diminishment of orgasm in at least 75 percent of sexual experiences for at least six months.

    This condition is highly common, affecting as many as 28 percent of American women—in essence, too many women have poor or non-existent orgasms.

    Satisfaction

    A woman’s overall satisfaction with a sexual experience is tied both to her own experience of a sexual encounter and her experience with her partner. Satisfaction is a positive quality that can stem from a sexual experience (such as a feeling of well-being). Inversely, when women do not feel fully satisfied with their sex life, it may indicate sexual dysfunction. This may be caused by distress, anxiety, or frustration, and, in extreme cases, it can constitute a condition known as sexual aversion disorder.

    Pain

    Researchers recognize painful sex (dyspareunia) as a common but often neglected health concern. Pain with sex can be correlated with dysfunction in another domain, such as inadequate lubrication, but it can also exist independently. Some women may experience deep pain within their pelvis (due to a history of pelvic adhesions from prior surgery or infection) or superficial pain of the more external sexual structures, such as the vulva. Some women may experience involuntary spasms of the vagina when initiating sexual intercourse or during sexual intercourse, known as vaginismus.

    Other conditions that can contribute to painful sex include:

    • Skin conditions of the sexual region, such as lichen sclerosus or vulvovaginal candidiasis
    • Urinary tract infections
    • Sexually transmitted infections
    • Endometriosis
    • Ovarian cysts
    • Vulvovaginal atrophy
    • Uterine fibroids
    • Pelvic organ prolapse

    Often, when a woman has had a painful sexual experience in the past, it can also make her more reticent to engage in sex moving forward, and she may perceive a heightened state of awareness of pain. This can cause her to avoid sexual encounters, which can exacerbate the pain problem because experiencing long periods without sexual intercourse can make her more likely to experience pain when she does re-engage with a partner at a future time.

    Who is More Likely to Experience Sexual Dysfunction?

    Sexual dysfunction can happen to any woman at any stage of life. However, researchers who studied a specific population of women identified certain characteristics that made them more susceptible to experiencing sexual dysfunction, including the following:

    • Being older than forty years of age
    • Having sexual intercourse less than three times a week
    • Having been married for ten or more years
    • Having three or more children
    • Being unemployed
    • Having a low level of education
    • Being married to a man aged forty years or older

    Research on other population samples has found that women who smoke cigarettes or transition to menopause are also more likely to experience sexual dysfunction. Certain conditions, such as urinary incontinence, can make women shy about participating in sexual activity and decrease desire. And certain medications, such as antidepressant medications and chemotherapy agents, can also contribute to sexual dysfunction.

    Managing Sexual Dysfunction in Women: Some Choices

    Many physicians find themselves at a loss when treating women who suffer from painful sex or other forms of sexual dysfunction. Women diagnosed with a condition of female sexual dysfunction are often offered behavioral health counseling (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or couples therapy) or sexual therapy to help with their needs. These methods can help women find different ways to increase their desire, improve arousal, and find new ways of communicating with sexual partners. Still, they may not address underlying pain conditions that tie into sexual dysfunction.

    Testosterone

    Medications are also sometimes used to help improve symptoms in women with sexual dysfunction. For example, testosterone has been used to help women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder; however, according to experts at the American Academy of Family Physicians, this is based on limited data. 

    Estrogen

    For women who experience pain with sex, an estrogen prescription can help with lubrication, especially in women who have a condition known as vulvovaginal atrophy. 

    Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors

    Some women have also experienced benefits from a medication class known as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (a standard medication class used in erectile dysfunction in men). However, this medication class has been far less effective in women for improving sexual function than in men.

    Flibanserin and Bremelanotide

    In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a medication for women to treat sexual interest/arousal disorder, known as flibanserin. However, this was only approved for premenopausal women, and it comes with a boxed warning about liver damage. Women taking flibanserin can also experience side effects such as sleepiness, dizziness, and tiredness. 

    Additionally, bremelanotide was approved by the FDA in 2019 to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. This treatment, however, is only available as an injection.

    The Best Answer in Healing Sexual Dysfunction in Women: The Clear Passage® Approach

    The Role of Clear Passage®’s MAR Physical Therapy in Improving Female Sexual Function

    To address and treat sexual dysfunction, this type of therapy harnesses how your organs, nerves, muscles, and bones interact. At Clear Passage®, they find symptom relief at the primary source. For example, because an orgasm results from a rapid contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, it makes intuitive sense that evaluating the overactivity or underactivity of the pelvic floor muscles could improve a woman’s orgasms. 

    Physical therapists who focus on pelvic health often help their patients learn techniques such as Kegel exercises to help them gain more strength in the pelvic floor muscles and better control their bowel and bladder. Kegel exercises can help improve incontinence symptoms, indirectly improving a woman’s sexual dysfunction in desire. For instance, she may be more motivated to have intercourse if she is not preoccupied with the possibility of incontinence and potential pain.

    Beyond Kegels and pelvic floor strengthening, researchers have also found that a manual physical therapy method can effectively treat sexual dysfunction within the pain domain. In a recent systematic review, researchers found that applied manual physical therapy can relieve pain with intercourse, improving dyspareunia. As a non-invasive and non-surgical intervention, it is safe and significantly benefits patients who suffer from painful sex.

    The World Renowned Treatment for Improving Sexual Health and Reducing Sexual Dysfunction

    Sexual dysfunction can significantly affect your life, particularly if you desire a sex life but your biological response does not match your desire. Addressing a sexual function problem with medication or counseling may help some women. However, many others may still experience pain with sex owing to problems with adhesions, endometriosis, or otherwise. Women may also feel that the risk of certain medications may outweigh the benefits of improved sexual function, so they may opt not to get formal treatment for their sexual dysfunction instead of persisting with a suboptimal sex life.

    This doesn’t have to be you. 

    The Wurn Technique®: Your Path to Sexual Freedom

    For many women being held back by sexual problems, particularly those related to pain, a manual physical therapy technique developed by Clear Passage® Therapies may help. 

    Known as the Wurn technique (named after its developers), this method applies a site-specific, non-invasive manual therapy technique to improve adhesional pain, which improves the mobility of a woman’s soft tissues. Since adhesional pain is so interconnected with sexual function, the simple therapy, applied for a total of 20 hours of treatment, can decrease a woman’s pain with sex and increase her ability to orgasm.

    The Wurn technique is a patient-centered method backed by scientific data, with demonstrated effectiveness dating back to a 2004 study. Academics have praised it from several prestigious institutions. 

    Several studies have shown that the Wurn Technique® can significantly increase a woman’s scores in all six sexual function domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Moreover, researchers have found that these results are consistent both within a general sample of women and for women who have endometriosis.

    The Wurn Technique® Can Improve Other Medical Conditions as well.

    Because the Wurn technique improves soft tissue mobility and can reduce adhesional pain, it has also been effective for treating medical conditions beyond sexual dysfunction. 

    These include:

    • Female infertility
      • Particularly, infertility stemming from an occluded fallopian tube.
    • Abdominopelvic adhesions
    • Endometriosis
    • Menstrual pain
    • Total and partial bowel obstructions. 

    Wurn practitioners are adept at comprehensively evaluating a person’s health status and then applying their technique in a way that can synergistically improve health—often, reducing adhesions can improve the function of more than one body system.

    What financing options are available for the Clear Passage® treatment program?

    The pricing structure of a Clear Passage® treatment plan begins at $7,500. This does represent a financially significant investment; however, for many women struggling with sexual dysfunction, the benefits conferred by improving sexual health (such as increased satisfaction, better well-being, improved relationships) have an intangible financial value. Women who are interested in pursuing Clear Passage® therapy have many financing options. Clear Passage® clinics offer financing with CareCredit, as just one example. Patients with Medicare and Medicaid cannot receive funding currently, but the Clear Passage® team constantly pursues new channels to increase patient access.

    Partnering with Clear Passage® to Improve Your Sexual Experience and Other Medical Conditions

    Having suboptimal sexual health or outright sexual dysfunction can be an isolating and devastating experience for many women. When a woman does have the courage to address her concerns with a medical provider, she may not be met with the expertise required to make an effective change. Or, if she is offered treatment options, she may opt not to pursue them because of hesitance about managing a sexual health condition with a drug, needle, or costly procedure.

    The Clear Passage® program offers women with sexual dysfunction a clear and compelling alternative in manual physical therapy. Clear Passage® practitioners are highly skilled and utilize a scientific, patient-centric, hands-on therapy approach to improve pain symptoms in women and allow them to return to a fulfilling sexual life. The dedicated team of therapists, researchers, advisors, and support staff at Clear Passage® applies their excellence daily and continuously deliver superior care to their patients.

    To learn more, request a consultation today.

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  • 7 Questions to Ask Yourself As You Self-Check/Self-Examine

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    Even though the national self-check month has ended, we at Clear Passage® are devoted to encouraging people to become more familiar with their bodies by performing a self-evaluation or medical self-check.

    A “medical self-check” includes examining your body and then following up on any findings, as well as scheduling routine preventive care with your physician. By identifying symptoms early on—and addressing them— you can help yourself nip health conditions in the bud and prevent them from getting worse or causing you undue stress.

    Here is what you need to know about the importance of asking medical questions during the rest of the year.

    Why You Should Continue to Self-Check Even When it Feels Uncomfortable

    It’s not uncommon to be experiencing a symptom of a health condition and put off addressing it with a medical provider. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Research has shown that being too embarrassed to ask a medical question is very common and can profoundly impact the quality of care that you receive and your relationship with your medical provider. That is why it’s essential to ask health questions, even when you’re unsure. 

    Sometimes, people feel:

    • Unsure about whether a sign warrants attention.
    • That symptom may be so vague or infrequent that it is easy to blow off.

    It’s important to know that your symptoms may be having a profound impact on your life, but you feel shy or embarrassed to ask about them or regularly check on them. You may not even be aware that a symptom you’re experiencing can be addressed and managed with medical treatment.  As you apply medium pressure on your joints, back, and abdomen, you might find areas for improvement.

    7 Important questions to continually ask yourself as you do a medical self-check.

    1. Ask yourself if you’ve noticed changes in your stool patterns.

    It may seem strange to consider details of your bowel movements, but if you’re having any changes in your stool patterns—especially if you’ve had a consistent pattern for a long time that’s suddenly different—it’s essential to address. You can either bring this up to your clinician or seek help from pelvic floor physical therapists. 

    Ask yourself about any changes in your stool color or consistency. For example, changes in your stool color can stem from various causes (such as a new diet or medication), but they can also be a sign of a more critical condition.

    Changes in the way that your stool looks—like if you suddenly have stringy poop—could indicate a change in the structure of your colon, among other conditions. If you’re having painful bowel movements, pelvic pain with bowel movements, or if you’re unable to have a bowel movement, you could have a partial bowel obstruction or a condition such as endometriosis. Your doctor may want to perform a more extensive investigation. Depending on your findings, you may be eligible for non-invasive management of your condition using the Clear Passage® approach.

    2. Monitor your unexplained pain.

    Be consistently considerate about any unexplained pain you may be experiencing. Sometimes, unexplained pain—especially stomach pain, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, or groin pain—can be caused by a condition known as adhesions, which are internal scars. Adhesions can develop from prior surgery, infection, or injury, and they can cause discomfort.

    Sometimes, adhesions can lead to severe conditions such as small bowel obstructions.

    Research shows that abdominal adhesions are the leading cause of small bowel obstructions. Managing adhesions can be tricky, as undergoing a surgical procedure to treat adhesions can often lead to the development of even more adhesions. However, a non-surgical, ‘hands-on’ physical therapy approach at Clear Passage® clinics has decreased adhesion pain and increased function without surgery or pharmaceuticals.

    3. Consider any complexities in your sex life.

    Your sexual relationships potentially represent the most private and personal aspects of your entire life. It can be intimidating to discuss your sex life with your partner or medical provider. 

    This is even harder if you’re:

    • Having pain with intercourse (also known as dyspareunia)
    • Experiencing low sexual desire.
    • Have difficulty getting aroused or other sexual concerns.

    Talking to your medical provider can significantly improve your quality of life and relationships with all these signs. Often, women are shy to speak specifically about intercourse pain (dyspareunia). Still, painful sex is a widespread condition (affecting nearly one in three women at one point in their lifetime) that can be improved with proper treatment. 

    A non-invasive, hands-on physical therapy approach can significantly decrease pain with intercourse. Research published in the Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders showed that patients who received hands-on physical therapy using the Clear Passage® Approach for the treatment of painful intercourse reported:

    4. Think ahead about your family planning and fertility concerns.

    If you’re interested in getting pregnant in the future or trying to get pregnant now, you may feel hesitant about whether you will achieve your goal. But, according to the American College of Gynecologists, the definition of infertility is 12 months of trying to conceive without resulting in a pregnancy, and, in women over age 35, infertility is diagnosed after six months of conception attempts.

    It’s crucial to be honest with yourself about your fertility and family planning intentions because there are many things you can do to improve your fertility. Still, you must first identify the cause of your infertility. 

    For example, a blocked fallopian tube contributes to their difficulty getting pregnant for up to 25 to 35 percent of women with infertility. While this condition is sometimes managed with surgical treatment or invasive procedures, a non-invasive, hands-on physical therapy method is also effective in restoring fertility.

    5. While practicing self-checks, consider how to prepare for any upcoming surgeries.

    Part of a thorough self-check includes anticipatory planning. When you see your doctor for a routine check-up, make sure to ask about how to prepare for any upcoming procedures or surgeries. That is especially important if you have a history of complications with surgeries such as small bowel obstructions or adhesions. If you know in advance that you have to undergo a surgical procedure, your doctor may recommend ways that you can strengthen your body ahead of time. Your doctor may also recommend a rehabilitation program, such as hands-on physical therapy in the immediate period following surgery, as this is a preventive way of decreasing the formation of adhesions in the first place.

    6. Consider what lifestyle adjustments you can make to optimize your health.

    Once you know any active symptoms or concerns you’re having and prepare for any upcoming medical events, it’s also a good idea to discuss how to manage your health proactively. Four main lifestyle adjustments to improve your health include:

    1. Checking in about what you’re eating
    2. How are you moving your body
    3. Your sleep habits
    4. Your stress level. 

    By staying on top of these four pillars of health, you can optimize your wellness and continue enjoying the highest possible quality of life.

    7. Strongly consider pursuing physical therapy for your condition.

    Identify a symptom on a self-check that leads to a formal diagnosis of a new condition. Your health professional may have provided you with several treatment options, including watchful waiting, lifestyle changes, prescription medications, procedures, or surgeries. It’s important to ask yourself questions about your treatment plan and whether your condition can also be managed with physical therapy. 

     The Clear Passage® Approach’s hands-on (manual) physical therapy methods can heal conditions traditionally managed with medications or invasive medical procedures. These conditions include:

    Partnering with Clear Passage® to Address Your Health Concerns

    It takes courage to regularly be considerate about your health concerns, especially when they involve highly personal areas of your life. However, you only stand to benefit when you are your own health advocate. 

    If a medical condition has been identified during a check-up with your medical provider, consider the role that physical therapy may play in your recovery. 

    At Clear Passage®, we help patients manage many health conditions with a safe, natural, non-invasive hands-on physical therapy technique. With us:

    • Our highly skilled clinicians use a scientific, patient-centric approach. 
    • We are adept at transcending medical jargon to get to the heart of what’s bothering you. 
    • We are dedicated to achieving positive results for each of our patients. 
    • Our team of therapists, researchers, advisors, and support staff at Clear Passage® applies its excellence daily to get you back the life you know you deserve!

    To learn more, request a consultation today.

    Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter to stay in touch with our team, news, and events!

  • 30 Internal Scarring Facts for National Self-Check Month

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    February is National Self-Check Month. Internal scarring (adhesions) in your pelvic region can occur throughout your life due to surgeries, accidents, and even natural wear and tear. This self-check month is meant for you to implement preventative health measures. These can include making better dietary choices, performing self-examinations, or going to a wellness visit with your physician to seek early treatment for symptoms associated with health problems. 

    What questions should you ask your physician during your wellness visit? Depending on what issues need to be resolved, physical therapy may be the treatment you need, particularly if you are experiencing illness, pain, and other health problems caused by adhesions. 

    How can you know if you have adhesion-related health problems? This article offers answers to these and other questions and makes a case for why you should ask your physician about physical therapy for adhesion-related conditions. 

    National Self-Check Month at Clear Passage®

    National Self-Check Month raises awareness about the importance of taking proactive steps to prevent health problems and addressing existing health problems. One might imagine that preventing or addressing health problems would be easy, yet people avoid seeking medical care for many reasons. They may:

    • Feel that they are too busy.
    • Worry about the costs associated with care.
    • Have unfavorable opinions about health care providers, or;
    • Assume that symptoms will eventually improve without intervention. 

    No matter what it is, the truth is that avoiding medical care is not a good idea. 

    Lack of treatment, at best, can result in avoidable discomfort or suffering, and at worst, can result in late detection and treatment of a disease with severe or potentially deadly consequences. 

    Suppose you are experiencing illness, pain, or other health problems. In that case, it is crucial to advocate for yourself by seeking early treatment, not just any therapy, but customized solutions that are most likely to provide the best results. Doing so can result in the restoration of your body to its best possible condition or even complete relief and healing.

    7 Questions You Should Ask Your Physician

    During your wellness visit, your physician will review your family history of illness, your medical records, and vital signs, and perform an exam. Explain to your physician what habits you have regarding diet and exercise, sleep, and stress management. 

    Refer to this list of questions to help you get valuable feedback from your physician during your wellness visit. Be sure to jot down additional questions that come to mind as you continue reading this article.

    1. Based on your observations about my appearance, vital signs, and weight, what is your initial impression of my health?
      1. Ask for an explanation of your blood work results or other diagnostic test results, if available.
    2. Do you have any suggestions regarding my health habits?
    3. Am I prone to certain health risks based on my family history? 
    4. Should I continue taking medications? Should the dosages be adjusted?
    5. Make a list of specific pains or other symptoms you may have experienced. Go through the list with your physician. Ask after each item, “Is this normal?”
    6. What treatment options are available for (fill in the blank)?
    7. Would I benefit from physical therapy for (fill in the blank)?

    Surgery and/or Medication vs. Wurn Technique®’s Physical  Therapy

    Although surgery and medication play a vital part in healthcare, they come with risks and a long list of potential side effects. On the other hand, Physical therapy can provide effective, long-lasting results without the risks and side effects, especially for adhesion-related problems.

    Demonstrated Positive Results With Physical Therapy

    Studies from major medical journals, available from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), demonstrate the results of physical therapy using the Clear Passage® Approach®. This non-surgical treatment utilizes the Wurn (hands-on) adhesion release techniques for various conditions caused or exacerbated by adhesions. This landmark 10-year study and many others demonstrated how this specialized, hands-on physical therapy yielded pregnancy rates for women with PCOS, small bowel obstruction (SBO), and at rates similar to standard medical treatments but without surgery or pharmaceuticals. 

    A Deeper Look: What are Adhesions? 

    What are adhesions? Adhesions are a type of scar tissue that forms inside the body after an accident, fall, surgery, infection, inflammation, trauma, radiation therapy, or endometriosis. Since surgery to treat adhesions can cause more adhesions, it makes perfect sense to treat adhesions with physical therapy rather than surgery.

    Many people associate physical therapy with treatment for injuries or range-of-motion issues, and rightly so, because physicians readily prescribe physical therapy for those problems. But did you know that physical therapy can also effectively treat symptoms associated with a wide variety of diseases and conditions? 

    Clients with these ailments have found improvement and relief with physical therapy.

    • Lymphedema
    • Muscular dystrophy
    • Osteoporosis
    • Respiratory issues, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, and more, 

    When it comes to unexplained pain and dysfunction and biomechanical problems, physical therapy has a long track record of proven results. Physical therapists identify and treat the root cause of many peripheral problems, often a consequence of an underlying problem, such as adhesions.

    The Comprehensive List of 30 Adhesion-Related Health Problems to Ask your Doctor about

    Adhesions can squeeze nerves, organs, and joints – causing internal pain or dysfunction, including female infertility, life-threatening bowel obstructions, and numerous other problems. How can you know if you have adhesion-related health problems? This list provides some basic information about adhesion-related health problems and their causes.

    1. Menstrual Pain / Dysmenorrhea – Adhesions pull ligaments, fascias, or connective tissues that attach the uterus to surrounding structures
    2. Intercourse Pain / Sexual Dysfunction – Adhesions form between muscle cells deep within the cervix and/or attach to the vaginal wall, entrance, or other pain-sensitive structures.
      1. This reduces elasticity, potentially pulling the tailbone forward, and negatively impacts desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction.
    3. Endometriosis Pain – Adhesions pull on pain-sensitive structures caused by endometriosis.
    4. Genital Mutilation – Adhesions can cause a lifetime of chronic pain and dysfunction.
    5. Cervical Stenosis – Adhesions can tighten, narrow, or close the entrance to the uterus and pull on the uterus, causing inflammation, pain, and more adhesions.
      1. These can ascend within the uterus to block one or both fallopian tubes.
    6. Mastectomy Pain – Adhesions can form in the chest wall, neck, shoulders, and arms, causing pain and tightness or a condition called “frozen shoulder.”
    7. Hysterectomy Pain – Adhesions can form at the surgical site and connect to neighboring structures like the intestines, bowels, vagina, or bladder.
    8. C-Section Pain – Adhesions can form at the surgical site and cause pain and tightness in the pelvic region.
    9. Myomectomy Pain – Adhesions can form within the uterus and decrease the chances of successful implantation of a fertilized egg, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage, or form outside of the uterus and bind delicate reproductive structures together, impairing function.
    10. Blocked Fallopian Tubes – Adhesions and internal scars are the primary causes of tubal blockage.
    11. Hydrosalpinx – Adhesions can cause the swelling of the fallopian tubes.
    12. Endometriosis Infertility – Inflammation that accompanies the endometrial swelling can continually cause more and more adhesions to form, impairing functions necessary for fertility.
    13. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – Adhesions can cover the ovaries.
    14. Pre-IVF Treatment / Age, High FSH & Hormonal – Adhesions can form at the uterus, cervix (called stenosis of the cervix), and fallopian tubes, and the dura and skull (near the pituitary, the “master gland” of female reproduction), reducing FSH levels and decreasing implantation rates.
    15. Unexplained Infertility (UI), a.k.a. Idiopathic Infertility – Adhesions are invisible on X-rays, ultrasounds, MRI, or CT scans.
    16. Secondary Infertility – A reproductive tract traumatized by the initial pregnancy or birth can result in adhesions that interfere with future fertility.
    17. Neck Pain – Adhesions can form when neck muscles are inflamed by poor posture, injury, or other causes.
    18. Back & Hip Pain – Adhesions can form at the sacral joints, causing biomechanical and soft tissue dysfunctions. 
    19. Tailbone Pain – A misaligned tailbone can cause mobility problems, constipation, reproductive problems, and the formation of adhesions that aggravate all of these issues.
    20. Childhood Surgery/Trauma – When adhesions and scar tissue that form with surgery do not grow and expand with the rest of the body as the child grows, problems can last a lifetime.
    21. Migraines/Chronic Headaches – Internal scarring creates unnatural pressure that affects complex pain-sensitive structures in the head.
    22. TMJ/TMD – Adhesions can cause tightness or asymmetries that affect the jaw or temporomandibular joints.
    23. Myofascial Pain (MPS) – Adhesions cause mechanical problems with the body’s structure, resulting in pain.
    24. Post-Radiation Pain – Radiation therapy adhesions cause irradiated tissues to adhere to nearby organs, muscles, bones, and connective tissues.
    25. Pain After Abuse – Trauma causes adhesions that can remain in the body for a lifetime without intervention.
    26. Abdominal Pain – Internal scarring can form between the ribs and the pubic bone, decreasing function and causing pain.
    27. Pelvic Pain / Groin Pain – Internal scarring can form when the membrane covering the abdominal and pelvic organs becomes inflamed and or the infection spreads throughout the abdominopelvic cavity.
    28. Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Inflammatory Diseases – Adhesions are a significant concern for patients with inflammatory diseases, slowing digestion and causing pain, nausea, bloating, distension, constipation, or diarrhea.
    29. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) – Adhesions can slow or stop bacteria from exiting the digestive system, contributing to the recurrence of SIBO and causing additional adhesions.
    30. Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) – Adhesions can interfere with or completely block the passage of food and waste material, causing stomach pain and “stringy poop.”

    Do not avoid medical care or ignore illness, pain, or other health problems. During National Self-Check Month, make a wellness appointment, and be sure to ask your physician about physical therapy for any adhesion-related conditions you may have. Take a stand for your health by seeking treatment that will produce the desired results while avoiding the risks and side effects associated with surgery and medications.

    Set up a free consultation today! 

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  • Pre-IVF Treatment

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    Apply For a Fertility Loan

    15 failed IUIs,
    7 failed IVFs,
    2 children after Clear Passage®

    “I feel 100% better than I did before your therapy. Anyone who has gone through extensive fertility treatments can appreciate the wonderful environment you provide at Clear Passage®. After going through your program, I don’t know how anyone can go through fertility treatments without first getting their body as close to 100% as possible.”
    – Hailey

    Increasing IVF Success with Pre-Transfer Therapy

    Severe Endometriosis, 15 failed IUIs, 7 failed IVFs, then two children after Clear Passage®!

    Clear Passage®️ is a world leader with over two decades of experience improving female fertility, including treatment prior to IVF embryo transfer. As early as 2004, a study in WebMD’s Medscape General Medicine indicated that our manual therapy increased IVF results. Some of our highest pregnancy rates were in women between 35 and 45 years of age who had experienced several prior failed IVF cycles.

    Our work addresses the physical quality, mobility, and motility of your reproductive organs in ways your reproductive physician cannot do. The results of our focus on helping these organs are clearly shown in the video below.

    IVF Pregnancy Rates
    Compared to the US national post-transfer success rate (shown in gray), CP therapy (in teal) significantly increased IVF pregnancy rates in every age group when performed before embryo transfer. Rates among women over 40 were three to five times the national average.

    In 2015, we collected data on these success rates and published results in a 10-year study of 1392 infertile women. (Rice et al., 2015a) The results of that study were eye-openers. IVF pregnancy rates averaged 56% across all age groups. Among other surprises, women over 42 were nearly five times as likely to become pregnant with IVF if they received Clear Passage®️ therapy before embryo transfer (p<.0001). You can read exact statistics grouped by age below, or at our Success Rates page.

    Please complete a Medical History Form so we can review your case and advise whether we feel we can help you.

    Pre-IVF Therapy Overview

    In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a remarkable and complex process in which sperm and egg are united outside the body and transferred into a woman’s reproductive tract. While success rates of IVF have steadily increased since the first successful transfer in 1978, IVF success rates remain around 31% as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). You can view a chart that compares CP therapy (alone and with IVF) to IVF rates alone on this page.

    Our earliest Infertility studies with pre-IVF data included 25 women and were published in 2004.  (Wurn et al., 2004a)  By the time the early pilot study closed, 60% (15/25) of the women had conceived or were still pregnant. 

    In a larger, landmark 10-year study of over 1,000 infertile women treated at Clear Passage®️ for various types of infertility, the overall IVF pregnancy rate was 56.16% (82/146) (Rice et al., 2015a) for women who had Clear Passage®️ therapy before IVF transfer. Calculated across all age groups, this rate is much higher than the rate for IVF alone.

    IVF physicians may stimulate the ovaries with medications to increase egg production. After extraction, the eggs are united with sperm and placed inside the reproductive tract.

    Treatment 

    Clear Passage®️ Treatment

    Our manual therapy appears to assist IVF transfer in several ways — some documented, some assumed.

    Documented improvements:

    • improved hormone levels
    • decreased adhesions in the reproductive tract
    • improved cervical mobility and ease of transfer

    Assumed actions:

    • Improved implantation by decreasing uterine spasm
    • increased blood flow to the ovaries, uterus, and possibly pituitary
    • improved implantation by decreasing microadhesions on and within the uterine wall
    One focus of Clear Passage®️ therapy is to decrease tiny adhesive cross-links at the cervix and uterus – to decrease spasm and create a more hospitable surface for implantation.

    As we go through life, all people develop adhesions (internal scars) as our bodies heal from life events. The female reproductive tract is subject to infection, inflammation, trauma, and surgery. When bacteria or items enter the vagina from the outside world, the delicate internal tissues can become subjected to microtrauma. These generate adhesions as the body begins to heal. Many women have a contributing history of infection (bladder, yeast, vaginal, etc.) or more serious trauma (falls onto buttocks, accidents, abuse). The body lays down collagen fibers – the building blocks of adhesions, as the first step in healing from any of these events. After the body has healed, the collagen fibers remain, binding tissues that should move freely. Clear Passage®️ therapists are experts at deforming and detaching these fibers, returning the body to an earlier state of mobility and function. In doing this, it returns fertility to many women.

    The decision to undergo IVF is a serious one. You may find it educational to watch the video below of a patient who compares undergoing treatment at Clear Passage® to her experience undergoing In Vitro fertilization.

    A Patient Compares Clear Passage® to IVF

    Link to jump ahead in the video to Jenny’s comparison.

    In summary, our site-specific hands-on therapy appears to decrease spasm and mechanical factors (such as adhesions) at the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes. Statistical data show that the therapy increases implantation rates and improves FSH levels. Fully 39% of women with FSH levels above 10 (the cut-off for many reproductive physicians) conceived after receiving CP therapy; the great majority had natural pregnancies. Two separate scientific studies showed clinical pregnancy rates significantly higher than the U.S. pregnancy rates for IVF, for women who received Clear Passage®️ therapy before embryo transfer. Please visit our infertility success rates page for more data.

    Surgeries may add to the problem since adhesions form as the first step in the healing process, forming at the site of the procedure and often spreading into nearby structures. Adhesions can form on the outer or inner walls of the uterus, creating a less hospitable surface for implantation. Adhesions can also cause spasms or inflammation in the uterus, further complicating or preventing pregnancy.

    Adhesions from endometriosis, inflammation, infection, or surgery can form on or within any of the reproductive structures. When they do, they act like glue, decreasing that organ’s ability to function properly.

    Adhesions deep within the cervix can cause tightness at the opening of the uterus, called stenosis of the cervix, also known as a stenotic cervix. These tiny adhesions can constrict the cervix, making sperm transfer (whether through intercourse, IUI, or IVF) more difficult. Any adhesive pull of the cervix from its normal midline position can cause spasms in the uterus, decreasing the chance for good uterine implantation and a successful pregnancy. Cervical adhesions can create a pull on the uterus with every step a woman takes, causing further spasms and uterine adhesions.

    Some women have been diagnosed by their physician with cervix stenosis (narrowing) or fibrosis (stiffness), evidenced by palpation, which leads to difficult IVF transfers. We have found that these conditions are caused by tiny adhesions attaching to muscle cells within the body of the cervix. When we treat the area, we find that positive changes are generally palpable to us and to the patient’s physician. IVF transfer then becomes easier, and implantation rates appear to increase significantly, per published studies.

    An image of Belinda Wurn treating a patient with back pain.
    Belinda Treating Back Pain

    Does Your History Include Any of These?

    Adhesions form whenever and wherever the body heals. Because they are composed of microscopic collagen fibers, which often can’t be seen by diagnostic tests (MRI, CT, X-ray), these tiny but powerful fibers are often undetectable. Once formed, adhesions can act like straitjackets, binding structures that need to move freely, decreasing your reproductive tract’s ability to function properly.

    If your medical history consists of any of the following, you may benefit from our therapy:

    • Surgery
    • Infection
    • Inflammation
    • Endometriosis
    • Menstrual pain
    • Intercourse pain
    • Cervical Stenosis
    • Hip pain or stiffness
    • Pelvic or low back pain
    • Physical or sexual abuse

    Cycle Timing

    Therapy consists of a 20-hour program, which can be completed in as little as five days. For best results, you should receive therapy within 15 months before your IVF transfer. We can treat you up to two weeks before you begin ovarian stimulation (the start of your follicle-stimulating medication) or up to two weeks before transfer for an unstimulated cycle.

    Considering the remarkable advantage our study participants had over IVF patients who did not receive therapy first, you may want to postpone a planned IVF cycle for a month or two to attend therapy first. Since the positive effects of therapy on IVF transfer appear to last for over a year, you do not need to receive IVF transfer immediately after therapy. Published data indicate you should attend our therapy between two weeks and 15 months prior to your IVF transfer. (Wurn et al., 2004a)

    How to Increase Your Chances of IVF Success

    1. Quit smoking
    2. Reduce your stress
    3. Optimize sperm health
    4. Maintain a healthy weight
    5. Look into taking supplements
    6. Focus on persistence and patience
    7. Ensure you have adequate levels of vitamin D
    8. Partner with an excellent doctor and an embryology laboratory

    Published Success Rates

    To view our published success rates in treating women’s infertility, including pre-IVF treatment, please visit our Infertility Success Rates page. 

    Compared to the US national success rate (shown in gray), CP Therapy (in teal) significantly increased success rates for IVF in every age group when performed within 15 months of embryo transfer. Rates among women over 40 were three to five times the national average.

    Testimonials

    To read testimonials from previous patients who used Clear Passage®️ as a pre-treatment for IVF, please visit our patient testimonial page. 

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  • Endometriosis & Infertility

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    Treating Endometriosis Infertility Naturally​

    Complete the online Request Consultation form to receive a free phone consultation with a therapist to learn if we may be able to help you.

    NOTE:  The 43% pregnancy rate for our patients with endometriosis includes women with totally blocked fallopian tubes. If your tubes are NOT blocked, it’s reasonable to assume your success rate will be higher.

    Clear Passage® is a world leader with over three decades of experience decreasing pain and improving fertility in women with endometriosis, without surgery or drugs. Initially, several peer-reviewed pilot studies examined our results treating pain and infertility in women with endometriosis. A ten-year, PubMed-indexed study[i] of 1392 infertile women compared our pregnancy rates to those of surgery (see chart below). Results showed conception rates for women treated with our Clear Passage® physio/physical therapy were 43% (128/299), similar to surgical rates (38% to 49%) but without the risks of anesthesia or surgery.

    Causes and Frequency of Endometriosis Infertility

    In endometriosis, tissue that normally lines the uterus is found in other areas of the body, frequently accompanied by internal bonds called adhesions. The most common areas for these misplaced tissues are on and near reproductive organs. Adhesions that form around endometrial tissue can act like an internal glue, inhibiting fertility and sometimes causing pain as they squeeze delicate structures or bind them to other structures within the pelvis.

    The misplaced endometrial tissue responds to the menstrual cycle as it would in the uterus, swelling during every menstruation. But unlike menstrual fluid that leaves the body, implanted endometriosis cannot exit the body. The inflammation that accompanies the swelling can cause more adhesions to form at the site of endometrial implants, further gluing down structures that should be mobile to function properly.

    Our focus is to detach the collagen fibers that comprise adhesions. In doing so, pelvic organs appear to return to an earlier state of freedom and pain-free function.
    Side-view of adhesions that can form at endometrial implants. Our focus is to detach the bonds between adhesive cross-links and underlying tissues. Freed from their adhesive bonds, the tissues return to a more normal state; pain decreases, function and fertility improve.

    How does endometriosis affect fertility?

    30-40% of women with endometriosis who are trying to conceive are diagnosed with infertility.[ii] With its focus on decreasing or eliminating adhesions, the Clear Passage® approach has been used by many women as an alternative to surgery for the pain and infertility associated with endometriosis. Its use is becoming more prevalent, due to studies on our work available through the U.S. National Library of Medicine in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

    Adhesions act like glue, binding reproductive structures in curtains or rope-like bonds of collagen fibers and sometimes attaching them to neighboring structures. Bound as they are in adhesive straitjackets, the reproductive organs cannot move or function normally.

    Endometrial adhesions may attach to one or both ovaries, causing ovulation pain or decreasing their ability to release an egg. Adhesions can block fallopian tubes in two ways: squeezing them closed from the outside or blocking them from the inside.

    We find that endometriosis located on or near the uterus can cause uterine spasm or painful periods, decrease the opportunity for implantation, or cause miscarriage. Endometriosis, which attaches to the nearby bowels, may cause painful bowel movements, back, tailbone, or intestinal pain. In short, adhesions within the reproductive tract can cause pain or dysfunction anywhere in the back or pelvis, including intercourse pain and infertility.

    Symptoms of Endometriosis

    • Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
    • Pain during intercourse
    • Pain during or after bowel movements or urination
    • Excessive bleeding 
    • Infertility 

    If you are experiencing any of these symptoms along with infertility, it is quite possible you have endometriosis. The only way to identify endometriosis is with an exploratory surgery. You should speak with your doctor about the best course of action depending on the severity of your condition. 

    Treatments

    Numerous treatment options and significant research data are available to women diagnosed with endometriosis-related infertility. Scientific data from respected medical journals allows consumers to compare the risks and success rates of various treatment options, including Clear Passage®, surgery, and pharmaceuticals. The graph on this page compares our published success rates with the published success rates of other infertility treatments for women with endometriosis, giving clear insights into options and success rates.

    In a 10-year study of 1392 infertile women, the Clear Passage® approach rivaled or surpassed standard options for treating endometriosis-related infertility (surgery and pharmaceuticals) when 43% of our patients conceived after therapy. Whether used alone or as an adjunct to pharmaceuticals, many physicians were pleased to see their patients have success without surgery.

    Clear Passage®️ – Treating Endometriosis and Adhesions

    Adhesions have stymied Western physicians for decades. At a cellular level, they are comprised of tiny but powerful collagen fibers, similar to the strands of a nylon rope. These fibers lie down on each other in a random pattern, forming a blanket or scar to surround endometriosis and nearby tissues. Once formed, they can act like glue or straitjackets in the body, causing pain or dysfunction as they bind delicate structures that should be free and mobile to work properly. Adhesions can last a lifetime and sometimes spread unless removed by us or via surgery.

    Clear Passage® staff started studying adhesions in 1984 when our physical therapist Director developed severe pelvic pain after surgery due to these internal scars. When we learned that surgery is a major cause of adhesions, our focus shifted to developing a non-surgical therapy to decrease or eliminate them.

    We learned that the collagen fibers were incredibly strong; we could not break them using our hands. Then we began studying how the individual strands attach to each other. Over the years, we came to realize that we could detach these powerful strands from each other by focusing on the molecular-chemical bonds (called cross-links) that attach each strand to the next. As we developed the work, our patients’ adhesions began to dissolve and disappear. To our therapists, it felt as if we were pulling out the run in a three-dimensional sweater using just our hands.

    The “hands-on” work practiced at Clear Passage® clinics is designed to reduce or eliminate adhesions, cross-link by cross-link. It has been shown to work extremely well for women with endometriosis and to have lasting effects. Many women who arrive with a history of endometriosis and infertility are now mothers of one or more children after a single five-day therapy session at Clear Passage®.

    No medical techniques have a 100% success rate. If you do not become pregnant soon after therapy and choose to undergo IVF, your chance for an IVF pregnancy increases by 50% over IVF without prior therapy. View our success rates. 

    Calculate your odds with Clear Passage®️ therapy. 

    Other Treatment Options (Surgery, Drugs)

    Pharmaceutical treatments for endometriosis pain generally involve hormones that prevent endometrial swelling, but also prevent pregnancy. Thus, many women with endometriosis infertility are encouraged to undergo laparoscopic surgery to burn or cut out endometriosis and any accompanying adhesions. We suggest checking your physician’s philosophy before undergoing surgery. Some are conservative; others are more aggressive. One physician told us, “I can cure the endometriosis if I cut so deeply into the affected organs that I get it all.” His focus was clearly on the endometriosis, not on surgical damage to the organ. 

    No matter how wonderful and skilled the physician is, every surgery carries some risks, including:

    1. Post-surgical adhesions. In a mammoth 58-year study of medical literature, researchers found that adhesions occur in 55-100% of women undergoing pelvic surgery.
    2. Risks associated with general anesthesia and infection.
    3. Inadvertent enterotomy (mistakenly cutting the bowel, bladder, rectum, a fallopian tube, or other structures).
    Many women report pain relief after surgery. Some report a recurrence of pain, or worse pain, after surgery. No matter how skilled the surgeon, most pelvic surgeries cause new adhesions as the body heals from the surgery, according to medical studies. (Liakakos et al., 2001)

    Unfortunately, post-surgical adhesions can cause recurrence of pain or infertility; endometriosis tends to re-grow and spread at and around surgical sites after surgery. A study published in Fertility and Sterility found that endometriosis was most likely to re-grow in the places where it was removed during laparoscopic surgery and that unaffected regions next to endometriosis were more likely to develop endometriosis after laparoscopic surgery. [iv]

    Pregnancy rates after laparoscopic surgery vary depending on the severity of the endometriosis. Women with stage I-II endometriosis experience far greater success than women with stage III-IV[v]. This is because women with stage III-IV frequently have deep endometrial implants that a surgeon cannot remove without damaging the organ or tissue. In published research, Clear Passage® pregnancy rates were shown to be equivalent or better than surgical pregnancy rates, depending on the surgery performed[vi].

    Published Success Rates

    To view all Clear Passage® published infertility success rates in women’s health, click here.

    Pregnancy rates for women diagnosed as infertile due to endometriosis who had our therapy were roughly equal to surgical rates, but no surgery was required.
    Most women who come to Clear Passage®️ with endometriosis and infertility report significant pain decreases; many became mothers after our therapy.

    Treating Endometriosis Without Surgery

    In the 1990s, we were surprised to find that our therapy to decrease adhesions often decreased pain and increased fertility for women with endometriosis. As improvements occurred in a wide variety of women we treated, we started sharing our data with PhD researchers to design clinical trials. Beyond organizing our findings into meaningful studies, these medical researchers helped us understand the anatomical reasons our work was helping these women.

    Studies on Clear Passage® Treating Endometriosis Infertility

    Our first major infertility study that included women with endometriosis was published in 2004 in WebMD’s international journal Medscape General Medicine[vii]. In this pilot study of infertile women, 71% became pregnant naturally and 64% had full-term deliveries. 33% of the successes reported second natural pregnancies before the study was published. In addition, 67% (22/33) of women who chose to undergo IVF after Clear Passage® became pregnant after embryo transfer. We felt our work was pioneering when Medscape’s editor, Dr. George Lundberg (former editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association), featured this study on the front page of Medscape’s website the month it appeared.

    Several other published studies include women with endometriosis. A large study published in 2015[viii] showed a 43% (128/299) pregnancy rate for women diagnosed as infertile with endometriosis. Remarkably, the success rate for opening totally blocked tubes for women with endometriosis was 60% (40/67); women with both endometriosis and totally blocked fallopian tubes had a post-therapy pregnancy rate of 38% (45/118). These results are considered extraordinary; until Clear Passage®️, no non-surgical treatment in medicine was shown to decrease pelvic adhesions or open blocked fallopian tubes. Women with endometriosis who chose to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) had a post-transfer pregnancy rate of 55% (31/56), which was 1.4 times the national post-transfer average during the period of the study.

    Often accompanied by adhesions, endometriosis appears in the interstitial spaces in the body – the places between organs, muscles, and nerves. Thus, they can bind neighboring structures together, causing pain or dysfunction – including infertility.
    Adhesions can form alone (right) or at the sites of endometrial implants (left). They act like glue in the reproductive structures, causing pain or infertility.

    Treating Endometriosis Pain

    In 2004, the reproductive journal Fertility and Sterility published some of our findings in an abstract[ix] describing results of an early pilot study. In 2011, a study in the Journal of Endometriosis showed significant pain relief at all phases of the menstrual cycle and a decrease in intercourse pain for women surgically diagnosed with endometriosis[x]. Reported results in the study showed:

    • 80% had decreased intercourse pain
    • 61% had decreased menstrual pain
    • 50% had less or no ovulation pain, and
    • 39% had decreased pre-menstrual pain

    A follow-up report in the Journal of Endometriosis (2014) measured the long-term impact of our therapy treating menstrual and intercourse pain in women with endometriosis[xi]. The results showed that our non-surgical therapy was equivalent to surgical results twelve months after treatment, with 50% of patients reporting complete resolution of pain. This was wonderful news for women with endometriosis who were facing surgery but wanted to avoid the adhesions that so frequently follow surgical intervention.

    Endometriosis and accompanying adhesions act like glue in the reproductive tract, adhering to some of the most delicate structures in the body. For proper function, these tiny organs must be free to move easily. Once freed from these bonds, reproductive organs tend to regain mobility and function, including fertility.
    Because medical treatments for endometriosis include hormones that prevent pregnancy, many infertile women are encouraged to undergo laparoscopic surgery to cut and burn the endometriosis and adhesions.

    Our Story

    Clear Passage® knows pelvic adhesions well. We first faced this problem in 1984 when our founder, physical therapist Belinda Wurn, developed severe adhesions after pelvic surgery and radiation therapy for cervical cancer. Unable to work due to adhesion pain and having seen their debilitating effects in her own patients, she was determined to find a non-surgical way to decrease pelvic adhesions.

    Noting the frequency of adhesions in patients with endometriosis, she and her husband, massage therapist Larry Wurn, took a much deeper look at the etiology and biomechanics of adhesion formation. They found that the chemical bonds that attached every collagen fiber to its neighbor to create adhesions appeared to dissipate when they used certain manual techniques on the adhesions. With this knowledge, they developed a unique ‘hands-on’ approach to unravel the bonds between the cross-links that comprise adhesions. They hand-picked and trained some of the most experienced manual physical therapists in the world in the methods they developed. Trained directly by the Wurns, these therapists use their non-surgical “hands-on” approach to detach the adhesions that attach endometrial implants to reproductive structures, with results cited in major medical journals. This is the same therapy we use today, with refinements we have developed since our initial inquiry in 1984.

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  • Endometriosis Pain

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    We Treat Endometriosis Pain Naturally

    Testimonials of women who had Endometriosis that Clear Passage® took care of.

    Clear Passage®️ is a world leader in treating endometriosis pain naturally, without surgery or drugs. With over three decades of experience, studies, and citations on our physio/physical therapy treating endometriosis and intercourse pain have been published in numerous peer-reviewed U.S. and international medical journals. 

    Complete our online Request Consultation form to receive a free phone consultation with an expert therapist and learn whether this therapy can help you.

    Our therapists also treat endometriosis-related infertility.

    The often dramatic decrease in pain our patients report in published studies is the result of our focus on detaching the bonds of adhesive cross-links. Freedom from those bonds creates freedom from the pain they cause.

    Success Treating Endometriosis Without Surgery or Drugs

    Studies on our work published in the prestigious Journal of Endometriosis show that menstrual pain decreases after Clear Passage®️ therapy were virtually identical to surgical results, even a year after therapy (the same follow-up period as surgical studies). Of course, our patients avoided the risks of surgery, including risks from anesthesia, inadvertent enterotomy (cutting into a nearby organ by mistake), and the common occurrence of post-surgical adhesions. Unlike surgery, published studies in that journal and others showed our therapy decreased intercourse pain with nearly every patient, and improved sexual function (desire, orgasm, lubrication) in most. Study results for improving sexual function are available by clicking here.

    Causes and Frequency of Endometriosis

    Endometriosis refers to a condition in which endometrial tissue that normally lines the uterus is found in other areas of the body. It may appear on or near the reproductive organs, within the abdominal cavity, or virtually anywhere in the body. Endometriosis causes inflammation, often accompanied by adhesions that form to help the body isolate endometrial implants or heal from the accompanying inflammation. These adhesions can join structures with strong glue-like bonds that can last a lifetime.

    Adhesions, endometriosis pain, and dysfunction are often intimately related in these patients. Adhesions from endometriosis can cause pain anywhere in the body (abdomen, pelvis, lower back). Dysfunctions such as poor digestion, irritable bowel, and infertility may also result from the adhesions and endometriosis. In our patients, we have found that the pull of adhesions on pain-sensitive structures is the cause of the severe, debilitating pain in many women with endometriosis.

    Tiny glue-like adhesions frequently form at the sites of endometriosis, causing pain.
    The pull of adhesions on pain-sensitive structures can cause severe, debilitating pain in women with endometriosis.

    Treatments

    Clear Passage®️ Treatment

    The Clear Passage®️ approach treats endometriosis by focusing on manually decreasing or eliminating adhesions commonly found with endometriosis. We find the chemical bonds that attach each of the tiny collagen fibers to its neighbor can dissipate or dissolve when placed under a very site-specific sustained pressure over time. Published results found that Clear Passage®️ treatment for endometriosis pain was as effective as surgical treatment, without the risks and side effects that are associated with surgery.

    The “hands-on” work practiced at Clear Passage®️ clinics is designed to reduce or eliminate adhesions, cross-link by cross-link. It has been shown in peer-reviewed medical journals to reduce adhesions, decrease pain, and improve soft tissue mobility, without the risks of surgery or drugs.

    Other Treatment Options (Surgery, Drugs)

    “Women may have varying degrees of acceptance towards surgical risks or side effects of drugs, and may choose therapy instead.”

    – Paolo Vercellini, MD, President of World Endometriosis Society

    While lysis of adhesions can be effective, the surgery has two major drawbacks:

    1. It carries risks associated with anesthesia and infection, and
    2. Despite the best skills of the finest surgeon, the body generally creates more adhesions as it heals from the surgery designed to remove them.

    A multi-decade study in Digestive Surgery showed that 55% to 100% of women develop adhesions following pelvic surgery. (Liakakos et al., 2001) Another huge study reported that 35% of all open abdominal or pelvic surgery patients were readmitted to the hospital more than twice to treat post-surgical adhesions during the 10 years after their original surgery. (Ellis et al., 1999) Thus, abdominal surgery itself has been implicated as a major cause of adhesion formation, and many patients become trapped in a cycle of surgery-adhesions-surgery – with no end in sight.

    Many women report pain relief after surgery. Some report a recurrence of pain, or worse pain, after surgery. No matter how skilled the surgeon, most pelvic surgeries cause new adhesions as the body heals from the surgery, according to medical studies. (Liakakos et al., 2001)
    Some women undergo laparoscopic surgery to treat endometriosis, and decrease or eliminate the adhesions that so often form nearby…

    Published Success Rates

    Adhesions and Sexual Function

    In “Increasing Orgasm and Decreasing Dyspareunia by a Manual Physical Therapy Technique” (Wurn et al., 2004b), we examined the improvements in female sexual function after CP treatment. Patients reported improvements in overall sexual function, with significant improvements in:

    • Intercourse pain
    • Desire
    • Arousal
    • Orgasm
    • Lubrication
    • Satisfaction

    Adhesions: Endometriosis Pain and Sexual Function

    In “Decreasing dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea in women with endometriosis via a manual physical therapy: Results from two independent studies,” (Wurn et al., 2011), we reported the results of our therapy in women with endometriosis. Patients reported decreased period pain during the:

    • Ovulation
    • Pre-menstruation
    • Menstruation

    Patients also reported improvements in overall sexual function, as well as in all six individual domains of sexual function:

    • Desire
    • Arousal
    • Orgasm
    • Lubrication
    • Satisfaction
    • Pain with intercourse

    In 2014, Clear Passage®️ published a follow-up report in the Journal of Endometriosis, titled “Update on ‘Decreasing dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea in women with endometriosis via a manual physical therapy: Results from two independent studies.’” This report assessed the long-term impact of the Clear Passage®️ Approach on menstrual and intercourse pain in women with endometriosis. The results were excellent, showing:

    • Significant reduction in menstrual pain at four and 12 months post-treatment, and
    • Significant reduction in intercourse pain at four months and suggestive at 12 months post treatment, with 50% of patients reporting complete resolution of pain. (Rice, Patterson et al., 2014)

    These statistics indicate that, when compared to the results of surgery, the Wurn Technique® and Clear Passage®️ Approach is at least as effective as this mainstream standard of care, without having to undergo surgery. 

    Published data show that CP Therapy decreased period pain among endometriosis study participants at these rates.
    Published data show that CP Therapy decreased period pain among endometriosis study participants at these rates.

    Testimonials

    To read past patient success stories, please visit our Testimonials page.

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