Physiotherapy for Infertility

Infertility is a process that requires a combined evaluation of different female and male factors that affect conception. Pelvic floor physiotherapy does not replace this medical evaluation or fertility treatment. It can be supportive for accompanying problems such as pelvic pain, pain during sex or difficulty using and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. A physiotherapy assessment covers your history, pain, breathing, movement habits and pelvic floor muscle function. Based on the findings, exercise, relaxation, body awareness, manual approaches and adjustments to daily activities are planned individually.

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Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy During Infertility: A Supportive Approach

What Does the Physiotherapy Assessment Cover?

In the consultation, we gather information about your infertility diagnosis and ongoing medical care, along with pelvic pain, pain during sex, and any history of surgery or endometriosis. Pelvic floor muscle movement, contraction-relaxation coordination and functional mobility of the abdomen and pelvis are assessed. This assessment helps identify the areas physiotherapy can work on.

How Are Exercise and Manual Therapy Planned?

Based on the findings, work to relax or strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, breathing and body awareness exercises are planned. If there is pain, tenderness or restricted movement, manual therapy may also be considered where appropriate. The content of treatment is tailored to each person; not every client receives the same technique.

Physiotherapy in Coordination With Your Fertility Team

Physiotherapy does not replace the medical tests that investigate the cause of infertility or fertility treatments. Issues such as the fallopian tubes, ovulation, ovarian reserve and sperm factors are evaluated by the relevant physicians. The physiotherapist offers support within their own scope: the musculoskeletal system, pelvic floor function and pain.

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Common and Treatable

According to global estimates from the World Health Organization, about 1 in 6 adults worldwide experiences infertility at some point in their life.

"I have pain during sex, and I tense up through this whole process."

"Since my endometriosis surgery, I feel tightness in my pelvic area."

"I’m having fertility treatment; can physiotherapy help with my pelvic pain?"

World Health Organization. Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990–2021. Geneva: WHO; 2023.

Physiotherapy for Infertility FAQ

How can physiotherapy help during infertility?

Physiotherapy assesses areas such as pelvic pain, pain during sex, pelvic floor muscle function and restricted movement in the abdomen and pelvis. The approach is based on your symptoms and your medical treatment.

Does pelvic floor physiotherapy increase the chances of getting pregnant?

There are studies on how manual therapy and physiotherapy affect pregnancy rates, but the evidence in this area is limited and study methods vary. A 2024 review rated the quality of evidence in manual therapy studies as low to moderate and highlighted limitations such as small sample sizes and a lack of control groups. For this reason, physiotherapy should not be seen as a fertility treatment; it can be used alongside your fertility team for physiotherapy goals identified as appropriate in your assessment.

Is uterine mobilization or manual therapy used during sessions?

Manual therapy is planned according to the findings of the assessment and the physiotherapist’s clinical judgment. Techniques involving pelvic tissue and mobility are explained to you, and their suitability is assessed in light of your health history and your consent. These techniques do not replace a medical infertility workup.

Can I have a physiotherapy assessment if I have endometriosis or have had surgery?

Yes, a physiotherapy assessment may be considered, especially if you have pelvic pain, pain during sex, tenderness around an incision or restricted movement. Your diagnosis and any procedures you have had are taken into account, and the approach is based on your symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis remain with your doctor.

Can I have physiotherapy during IVF?

It is best to discuss your need for physiotherapy and its timing with your IVF team. Especially during ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval or embryo transfer, which techniques are used should be planned around your treatment schedule and your healthcare team’s recommendations.