What Is Mercier Therapy?
Mercier Therapy is a specific hands-on treatment protocol created by Dr. Jennifer Mercier, PhD and naturopath. Dr. Mercier devoted her life’s work to the female pelvic region and its pathologies with respect to pregnancy. She is a midwife and doula with extensive massage training in addition to reproductive endocrinology practice experience. Her technique is performed on a client during multiple hands-on, manual therapy sessions. The certified therapist works on the abdominal and pelvic region to mobilize the skin, muscle, connective tissue, fascia, any and all scars, then moves deep into the organ level. It is similar but not the same as a deep massage of the abdomen, pelvis and female reproductive organs. The goal is to restore normal tissue mobility and decrease female reproductive organ restrictions.
How It Can Benefit You
*It is widely understood that great importance should be placed on rehabilitation of the body after musculoskeletal surgery. For example following shoulder surgery shoulder surgeons send patients to physical and/or occupational therapy. What about support for women, and all of the processes that occur in the pelvic organ region during childbearing age, pregnancy, and surgery? Mercier therapy IS abdominal and pelvic rehabilitation. If you are unsure you have anything to rehabilitate, (ie have never had a child or abdominal/pelvic surgery), and if you have been trying to conceive with no success, there are possible conditions that may occur within the female pelvis that are poorly diagnosed, misdiagnosed and unfortunately misunderstood. These disorders (ie endometriosis and pcos) can cause potential inflammation and adherent tissue. Speaking with and evaluation by a Mercier therapist and gynecological professional should assist in the diagnosis process
Just as one would train for a race, (pregnancy is a 9+ month marathon), this therapy will help free up the female reproductive organs into a more mobile state for conception and pregnancy
This therapy directly addresses scar restrictions and adhesions that may be present, which can improve mobility in the entire pelvic region, decrease pain, and improve overall pelvic health and organ function
Mercier therapy will improve mechanical restrictions of ligaments that suspend and connect the ovaries and uterus. Why do we need this and why is it important? Increased mobility can free up restricted blood vessels which can improve blood flow to organs. Blood flow is necessary for proper body function and is a foundation of life because blood is the vehicle by which nutrients and hormones are transported to the cells where they are needed. The job of the ovaries is egg and hormone production. The job of the uterus is to be a home for the lining to nourish an embryo and future baby. There needs to be adequate progesterone absorption, (a vital pregnancy hormone), in order for proper uterine lining buildup. It is important that these organs are free and mobile to enhance their blood flow and hormone transport ability, ie to do their jobs assisting healthy conception and pregnancy
Hands-on manual techniques to the abdomen and pelvis will mobilize fluid and increase lymphatic drainage. This is the system in our bodies that gets rid of unwanted waste products. Women with inflammatory disorders like endometriosis and pcos as well as those with even minor gastrointestinal issues may have more inflammatory cells in their lower abdomen. It is important to rid our bodies of inflammation for our bodies to run optimally and to welcome an incoming healthy pregnancy
If you are thinking about trying to get pregnant or are already along your journey, this therapy is the ONLY hands-on specific work that has been shown statistically to help increase the chances of achieving a pregnancy; it a NON-DRUG, non-surgical, all-natural thing one can do to ensure nothing mechanical is in the way of the conception process
If you are undergoing IVF or IUI, you have already invested time, energy, money, and much more into your fertility. Every cycle is manipulation of the body’s natural processes with synthetic drugs and increased stress on the body in various forms. It is important to decrease the number of cycles needed to achieve a pregnancy because the human body does not like to be manipulated outside of its normal homeostasis. One can improve the chances of a fertility treatment cycle(s) being successful if the pelvic organs are functioning optimally.
What Conditions Can Benefit From Mercier Therapy
~Endometriosis, Adenomyosis
~PCOS
~Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
~UNEXPLAINED infertility, ie: failure to conceive including through natural means or assistive technologies such as IVF or IUIs
~Before and after: laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, myomectomy
~Following C-section
~Scar tissue
~Pelvic pain
~Decreased uterine blood flow and lining
~Amenorrhea (absence of periods)
~Hormonal imbalances ie high FSH/premature ovarian failure
~Autoimmune infertility
~Recurrent miscarraige
~Pelvic infection, inflammatory disease
~Cancer
Why Try Mercier Therapy ?
It’s LOW COST: with comparison to reproductive technologies and treatments
It’s THERAPEUTIC: It supports conception, mobilizes the UTERUS and OVARIES and their ligamentous attachments, and increases circulation to the pelvis
It’s EFFECTIVE: Dr Jennifer Mercier’s 4 year, evidence based study concluded it had an 83% success rate
It’s PREPARATORY: It should be used to increase the chances of an IUI, IVF, medically assisted OR natural, non-physician monitored cycle
It’s NURTURING: Clients receive physical, emotional, and informational support throughout the one-hour sessions and beyond as needed, by phone and email
When should I try Mercier Therapy ?
BEFORE and DURING your journey trying to GET PREGNANT
DURING your journey trying for NATURAL conception
DURING your work with fertility specialists, gynecologists or reproductive endocrinologists to increase the chances of IVF or IUI assisted cycles
AFTER Cesarean Section, to prevent scar adherent tissue
BEFORE and AFTER pelvic or gynecological surgery
AFTER natural childbirth to prepare for subsequent pregnancies
If experiencing Pelvic pain
When CAN’T Mercier Therapy Be Performed
*If pregnant*
*If Intrauterine device is present (ie Essure)*
*DURING an ovarian stimulation cycle, (ie must be completed the cycle(s) prior to or following an egg retrieval once the ovaries have returned to their natural size: after the first menstrual period following egg retrieval)*
Mercier Therapy sessions should be completed PRIOR to an egg retrieval cycle, BETWEEN the retrieval cycle and transfer cycle, or while not undergoing a medicated cycle. Mercier Therapists work WITH you and/or your reproductive specialist to support all of your hard work. This therapy intends to HELP IMPROVE YOUR RESPONSE to fertility medication if taking any. If you are NOT working with a doctor and ttc naturally, timing is very flexible. Speak with the Mercier Therapist with any questions regarding when to start, she will guide you to find the most appropriate and optimal time to work based on your personal menstrual or medicated cycle.