Mercier Therapy: A Non-Invasive Approach to Fertility & Pelvic Health
If you have ever felt like your body was trying to tell you something, but you weren't quite sure how to listen, you are not alone.
For many women, fertility and reproductive health can become a journey of unanswered questions. Maybe your periods are irregular. Maybe you have been told you have PCOS, endometriosis, or another hormone related condition. Maybe you have been trying to conceive and still don't understand why it hasn't happened yet. Or maybe you simply want to prepare your body for pregnancy and feel like there is more you can do to support your health.
My interest in this area of women's health is deeply personal.
In my own health journey, I went almost a year without having a period at all. I was concerned about what was happening in my body and what it might mean for my future fertility. At the time, I was diagnosed with “suspected PCOS,” without having blood work or an ultrasound done to support the diagnosis. I remember feeling like I had been given a label without really understanding why my body was doing what it was doing. That experience stayed with me. It made me realize how important it is for women to feel heard and to have someone willing to look at the whole picture rather than simply placing a label on a symptom.
As I continued my education in women's reproductive health and fertility, I was introduced to Mercier Therapy. I eventually had the opportunity to train directly under Dr. Jennifer Mercier, the creator of the technique and a leading voice in women's health.
I still remember my very first visit with Dr. Mercier. During that visit, she received a text from a woman she had previously worked with. It was a positive pregnancy test. I remember how meaningful that moment felt, not only for the woman receiving that positive test, but for Dr. Mercier, who had been part of her journey.
Something clicked for me that day. I left that first visit feeling like I had found the work I was meant to do. I became fascinated by the possibility of offering women a natural, supportive approach to fertility and immediately wanted to learn everything I could. I started reading everything I could get my hands on about fertility and women's reproductive health. The very next day, I began a fellowship in integrative women's reproductive health, and throughout chiropractic school, I continued seeking opportunities to learn from and work with Dr. Mercier whenever I could.
What started as an interest quickly became a passion and, eventually, a major part of the work I wanted to build my practice around. I knew I wanted to help women feel the way I wished I had felt during my own health journey: heard, supported, and confident that they had options. That is what ultimately led me to become a Certified Mercier Therapist and to bring this work into Empower Fertility & Women's Health.
My goal is simple: I want more women to know that Mercier Therapy exists and to understand that there are supportive, non-invasive approaches they can consider as part of their fertility and pelvic health journey.
What Is Mercier Therapy?
Mercier Therapy is a specialized, hands-on form of visceral manipulation developed by Dr. Jennifer Mercier that focuses on the abdomen and pelvis. The technique uses specific manual work to support the mobility and positioning of the pelvic and reproductive organs and the surrounding tissues. By working with the organs, connective tissues, and structures within the abdomen and pelvis, Mercier Therapy is designed to encourage healthy movement within this area.
One of the foundational ideas behind this work is simple: movement equals life. Think about what happens when you have an arm in a cast. When a muscle is immobilized for an extended period of time, it can begin to atrophy. The muscle becomes weaker, and the surrounding tissues can become stiff and less mobile.
Our bodies are designed to move. When tissues and organs can move freely within their surrounding environment, they can better perform the functions they were designed to perform. The goal of Mercier Therapy is to support that natural movement and create a healthier physical environment within the pelvis.
It is not simply a fertility massage. Mercier Therapy is a specific therapeutic technique that uses intentional visceral manipulation of the abdomen and pelvis as part of a broader approach to pelvic and reproductive health.
Why Does Pelvic Health Matter for Fertility?
Fertility is complex.
Ovulation, hormones, nutrition, metabolic health, thyroid function, stress, sleep, age, sperm health, reproductive anatomy, and many other factors can all play a role in conception. Pelvic health is another piece of that picture that is often overlooked.
Your reproductive organs exist within a dynamic environment of muscles, connective tissue, fascia, ligaments, blood vessels, and surrounding structures. Previous abdominal or pelvic surgery, C-sections, injuries, inflammation, endometriosis, or other experiences can affect the tissues and mobility within this area.
Mercier Therapy focuses on this physical component of reproductive health. The intention is not to treat fertility as though there is one single cause or one single solution. Instead, it can be incorporated into a broader approach that considers the whole person.
What Does the Research Say?
Research into Mercier Therapy and fertility is still developing; however, it has been showing encouraging results:
In a 2013 report published in Midwifery Today, 48 women experiencing primary or secondary fertility challenges received Mercier Therapy. Within one year of beginning treatment, 40 women—83% of the participants—achieved pregnancy. Of those pregnancies, 32 occurred with Mercier Therapy alone, while 8 involved additional fertility treatment.
A separate report published in Midwifery Today looked at 171 women with primary or secondary fertility challenges who received Mercier Therapy before IVF stimulation. Of those women, 150—87.7%—achieved pregnancy. The report found that 87 women, or 50.9%, became pregnant during their first IVF cycle, while others conceived during subsequent IVF cycles or naturally.
Research has also looked at Mercier Therapy in women with PCOS undergoing fertility treatment. In a small 2020 quasi-experimental study of 20 women, those who received fertility medication alongside Mercier Therapy had greater ovarian follicle development on ultrasound than those who received fertility medication alone.
These findings are encouraging and add to the growing body of research exploring the role Mercier Therapy may play in fertility and reproductive health. While more research will continue to help us better understand the mechanisms and outcomes of Mercier Therapy, the results so far are promising and support continued exploration of this approach.
I have seen the impact of this work firsthand, which is one of the reasons I am so passionate about bringing Mercier Therapy to more women. I hope to continue contributing to this field and, as my practice grows, participate in and contribute to research that helps us better understand the potential of Mercier Therapy for fertility and women's reproductive health.
What Can Mercier Therapy Support?
Mercier Therapy may be incorporated into care for women who are:
Preparing for pregnancy
Trying to conceive naturally
Preparing for or undergoing fertility treatment
Looking for additional support alongside IUI or IVF
Experiencing pelvic pain, discomfort, or restricted mobility
Living with endometriosis, PMOS, or other pelvic health concerns
Recovering from a C-section or other abdominal or pelvic surgery
Looking to support healthy mobility within the abdomen and pelvis
Interested in taking a more proactive approach to their pelvic and reproductive health
Mercier Therapy is not a replacement for appropriate medical evaluation or fertility treatment. Depending on your individual situation, working with your OB/GYN, midwife, reproductive endocrinologist, or other healthcare provider may be an important part of your care.
What Happens During a Mercier Therapy Session?
Your first visit begins with a conversation. I want to understand your health history, menstrual cycle, reproductive history, pregnancies and births, previous C-sections or surgeries, pelvic symptoms, fertility journey, and what you are hoping to accomplish. From there, we determine whether Mercier Therapy is an appropriate part of your care.
The hands-on portion of the session is performed externally through the abdomen and pelvis. The techniques are gentle and specific, and your comfort is always important. This is not about forcing the body into a certain position or pushing through pain. It is about creating a therapeutic environment where we can work with the tissues and structures of the pelvis in a thoughtful and individualized way.
Mercier Therapy at Empower Fertility & Women's Health
At Empower, I don't view fertility as something that can be separated from the rest of your health. Your hormones, nutrition, stress, physical health, pelvic health, and reproductive history can all provide important pieces of the picture. That is why my approach combines the areas I have trained in, including chiropractic care, functional medicine, women's reproductive health, and Mercier Therapy.
The goal is not to overwhelm you with information or give you a long list of things you "should" be doing. It is to help you understand your body, identify the areas that may need support, and create a plan that makes sense for you.
My Hope for This Work
My hope is simple: I want more women to know that they have options. I want women to know that Mercier Therapy exists. I want women who have been told that their symptoms are "normal" to feel comfortable asking more questions. I want women who have received a diagnosis to understand that a diagnosis can be the beginning of a conversation—not necessarily the end of one. And I want women navigating fertility to know that they don't have to choose between medical care and supportive, complementary approaches. There is room for both.
Your body is not a problem to be fixed. It is a body worth understanding.
Want to Learn More About Mercier Therapy?
If you're curious about Mercier Therapy or want to hear directly from Dr. Jennifer Mercier and women who have experienced this work, I invite you to explore Conceiving Miracles, a documentary sharing real fertility journeys and the approach behind Mercier Therapy. Here’s the trailer:
To hear more stories from women who have conceived with the support of Mercier Therapy, you can listen to Dr. Mercier’s podcast, Conceiving Miracles. She shares conversations about fertility, women’s health, and Mercier Therapy, including many stories from women who have experienced the therapy firsthand. Click here to listen.
If you are curious about Mercier Therapy or wondering whether it may be appropriate for your fertility or pelvic health journey, I would love to chat. Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call with me today.
References
Banu, S. R., Murugaraj, T., Lopamudhra, & Shanmugananth, E. (2020). Physiotherapy in Fertility Treatment – Insight on Mercier Therapy. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(8).
Mercier, J. (2018). Mercier Therapy improves IVF outcome.Midwifery Today, (128), 59.
Mercier, J., & Miller, K. (2013). Mercier Therapy helps infertile women achieve pregnancy. Midwifery Today, Spring 2013, 40, 68.