Resolution of Secondary Amenorrhea of 20 Years in a Woman Undergoing Subluxation-Based Chiropractic Care
Melissa Ko D.C. Bio, Kim Khauv D.C., M.P.H. Bio, Joel Alcantara D.C. Bio
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic ~ Volume 2012 ~ Issue 2 ~ Pages 38-42
Abstract
Objective: To describe a patient with secondary amenorrhea, low- and mid-back pain, and headaches under chiropractic care.
Clinical Features: A 39-year-old female presented for chiropractic care with low- and mid-back pain, tension- and sinus-type headaches, and a 20-year history of secondary amenorrhea. The patient suffered from secondary amenorrhea with painful menses at 3-4 months per year since she was 18 years old. Low-dose estrogen was prescribed at 37 and 39 years of age to induce her menses. The patient’s last menses was 3 months prior to initiating chiropractic care.
Intervention: The patient attended 25 visits over an 8-month period utilizing manual muscle testing and Diversified chiropractic adjustments (i.e., high-velocity, low-amplitude) to address sites of vertebral subluxations.
Outcome: Following the second visit, the patient reported experiencing her first menstrual cycle in three months. After 25 visits, the patient reported seven monthly menstrual cycles over 8 months of care, decreased musculoskeletal pain, and improved general health.
Conclusion: This case report provides supporting evidence that subluxation-based chiropractic care may benefit patients suffering from secondary amenorrhea. Future studies to examine the effects of chiropractic care on the factors and mechanisms of secondary amenorrhea should be initiated.
Keywords: chiropractic, secondary amenorrhea, subluxation, manual muscle testing, Diversified, back pain, headaches
