Nathalie Lefol

Before undertaking a treatment, the osteopath asks her patients questions about their medical history, their past surgeries, their birth, and asks them to describe any prior traumatic event and ongoing treatment.

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We know that physical and/or emotional trauma can disturb tissue mobility and change the body's ability to function over short or long-term periods.

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It is, therefore, necessary to provide the patient with a specific correction which will enable their body to improve its self-regulation.

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With the body being a whole, the osteopath works in a holistic way. For the cranial system, the osteopathic approach is carried out on several levels : bone – membranous – central nervous system – cerebro-spinal liquid.

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As for the peripheral system, the osteopathic approach is always global, yet at the same time very specific while dealing with the membranous system : vertebral, muscular, visceral, fluidic and emotional.

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The medical care is adapted to each patient and the treatments are gentle to respect the state of health of each person (fatigue, level of pain).

Patients often feel a deep relaxation at the end of their osteopathy treatment or, more rarely, nothing. Immediately after and for up to 4 days after the session, there can be reactions of tiredness, more or less intensity of pain, or nothing at all.

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In all cases, the reactions wear off in time. They are normal and the patient should not worry about such after-effects.
 

• Osteopathy for endometriosis, fertility disorders  

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I am specialized in this domain and have been working daily, for years, with women suffering from endometriosis.​

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This illness affects some adolescents too and poisons the life of women until tthey reach menopause, at which point, the  symptoms disappear progressively. One or two Osteopathic sessions per year are advisable.

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This chronic inflammatory illness does not systematically make the woman infertile, as is often incorrectly reported, even if many couples have difficulty procreating with endometriosis. In 2021 many of endometriosis patients gave birth and had uneventful pregnancies.

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Aging and lowering of ovarian reserves influence this procreation, as well as endocrine disruptors such as phtalates (pesticides, paints, textiles ...).

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Diet plays an important role in the inflammatory state. I am able to offer pertinent nutritional advice to those patients interested

 
*Symptoms that lead patients with endometriosis to consult an osteopath :

• abnormal symptoms linked to the patient's period.

• shoulder pain, especially in the right shoulder, during menstruation. 

• dysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation) which is not normal, ever.

• Chronic pelvian pain lombalgia (lower back pain), or sciatica

• recurrent pain in the inner knee, due to tension of the genitofemoral nerve. 

• feelings of « heaviness » in the lower abdomen due to congestion of the pelvic sphere and the inflammatory state  (often accompanied by adhesions.)

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• dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse).

• pain during ovulation. 

• headaches – nausea – vomiting – cervical / dorsal discomfort.

• uterine cramping. 

• alternating constipation and diarrhea.

• blood in the urine. 

• pain when urinating or during bowel movements. 

• reoccuring pain after endometriosis surgery  (adhesions of scars). 

• antecedents of surgery of the abdomen, abdominal congestion. 

Remark : frequent scoliosis often accompanies endometriosis.

* Examples of correction of obstruction through osteopathy, aiding in procreation:

• Bad positioning of the pelvis:
Sacrum- iliac bone, coccyx : many ligaments, the USL (uterosacral ligaments) in particular, are under tension, preventing the uterus from mobilizing, and thereby hindering the reproductive function. 

• Reduced mobility of the dorso-lumbar vertebrae: 

Because of malposition and rigidity of the rachis and damage to the roots of the nerves from the hypogastric and ovarian plexus, the uterus cannot contract normally, hindering the circulation in the gynecological sphere and hence causing a congestion zone. 

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Simply, the uterus, constricted by endometriosis, has reduced mobility, and all organs surrounding the uterus become constricted as well. Because of this and because of the chronic inflammatory state, the organs no longer glide well against each other and gradually gather and eventually become stuck together, creating adhesions and abdominal-pelvic congestion.

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The osteopath intervenes to decongest the pelvic area, and thus, through her comprehensive and holistic approach, helps to facilitate a healthy pregnancy. Furthermore, it is important to treat patients holistically both before any surgery and post-surgery to manage scarring.

• Restriction of mobility in the cranial sphere:

The osteopath frees endocranial tensions (tensions in the skull), softens, aligns and relaxes the intracranial membranes (falx cerebelli, falx brain, tentorium cerebelli). She corrects endocranial spasms (tensions of the central nervous system) and activates the cerebrospinal fluid to decongest the cranial system.

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Frequent scoliosis leads to additional cranial tensions, which can be reduce through regularly surveyed osteopathy, as scoliosis in the adult cannot be corrected, but regularly creates cerebral, spinal and organ tension. 

An additional aim is to be able to treat and allow the pituitary gland to better function - the pituitary gland being the ‘conductor’ of hormonal regulation.

 

• Imbalance of the endocrine and nervous axis:
As a result of emotional disorders or stress, endocrine and nervous balances change, leaving room for hormonal dysfunction. The osteopath treats he endocrine axis by normalizing the pituitary gland, thyroid, liver, spleen, adrenals and ovaries. The holistic osteopathic treatment aims to facilitate fertility in women with endometriosis.

• Congestion in the gynecological sphere:  

There are various causes for gynecological tensions : 
     - effects of endometriosis (adhesions, organs immobile or even frozen)

      - post-surgical adhesions 
     - childbirth 
     - PTSD caused by former physical trauma such as assault
 

The osteopath works to decrease menstrual pains and pains during sexual intercourse.

Nearly all patients have reported a decrease in these symptoms.

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* When to consult an osteopath in the case of infertility ?

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Patients should consult a specialistic for a fertility check-up, especially after the age of 35 years, but even for a younger woman whose infertility persists longer than one year. A specialized medical check-up and ultrasound allow us to know if the ovarian reserve is sufficient. Additionally, a search for food intolerances can be proposed. Osteopathic follow-up is necessary alongside medical care. The first appointment in osteopathy can be made at any time of the menstrual cycle.

 

Proceeding appointments will be scheduled at a specific time of the menstrual cycle to take into account :
- Ovulation stimulation 
- Decreasing pelvic congestion

* How does a gynecological osteopathy treatment work?
 

The treatment will be specific and adapted to each patient. It will be explained and proposed rather than imposed, and will never be initiated in the first appointment. The patient must understand the purpose of the treatment, with the help of anatomic plates if necessary. The osteopath also take into account the reactions and pain experienced during manipulations, which must always be gentle and supportive for the patient. Otherwise, treatment is paused and continued in the next session. At present, after several years of practice, I can confirm that almost every woman I have treated has gained easier sexual intercourse, following my gynecological osteopathic treatments. Certain women can renew sexual relations after previously having been entirely unable to engage. Others find their relations are less painful, and some completely painless. The gynecological osteopathic treatment can only be carried out if there is a written agreement signed by the patient. The treatment lasts a few minutes. The other types of osteopathic treatment are always adapted to each patient.

 

Excluded from gynecological osteopathy are :
- Virgin women 
- women who have been victims of sexual assault and who refuse this treatment.

 

• Osteopathy and pregnancy surveillance

 

* This surveillance helps : 

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• To reduce or avoid pain in the pelvis, coccyx, pubic symphysis

• To reduce rachialgia (back pain)

• To make the spine more flexible, decongest the small pelvis, thereby improving circulation in the pelvis 

• To reduce nausea, gastroesophageal reflux 

• To reduce headaches, sinusitis 

• To minimize apprehension and fears about giving birth 

• To allow the patient to feel relaxed and reassured

* Uterine contractions and pregnancy 

Through normalizing the spine and the pelvis, the osteopath enables relaxation of the nervous system in connection with the uterus, as well as better circulation in the gynecological sphere. For these reasons, uterine contraction will decrease. The osteopath also restores hormonal changes during pregnancy, by treating the adrenals, thyroid, and other glands.

* Optimization of low birth 

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• The osteopath checks the positioning of the small pelvis (iliac bones, sacrum, coccyx, hips), the spine, and the mobility of the treated areas. Muscular and emotional tensions are also relaxed and unblocked, facilitating a physiological release. Better engagement, rotation and expulsion possible. 

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• If the baby does not appear in a cephalic position at the term of pregnancy (its back is on the left) the osteopath will look for areas of maternal blockages to facilitate delivery. 

* When is it best to consult ? 

At any time of pregnancy, the osteopath will take into account the patient's history. 

Why receive osteopathic care ?  

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• In the first trimester :  

Fear of a miscarriage can be largely diminished after an osteopathic intervention, as this intervention optimizes the proper course of a healthy pregnancy. Osteopathic care reduces the risk of uterine contractions, and therefore miscarriage. Though the release of vertebral and small pelvis dysfunctions and the relaxation of adhesions, the osteopath improves the circulation of the uterine artery, and consequently the blood supply at the fundus of the uterus, which is the seat of the elective insertion of the placenta. For these reasons, the osteopath plays an important role, especially for patients who have already experienced a miscarriage. Of course, osteopathic care takes into account the medical record.

• In the second trimester : 

At this stage, the pregnant woman is likely less fearful of a possible miscarriage.
Frequency of low back pain and sciatica increases, which the osteopath can alleviate.

• In the third trimester : 

This is the time to help prepare the patient for delivery, by releasing the lumbar joint blockages, softening the pelvis, and balancing the tensions of the muscles : psoas, pyramidal, and those of the perineum. This treatment facilitates the baby's engagement during childbirth.

 

How are these treatments carried out ?

Whatever the osteopathic care, it will always take into account the person as a whole, and will be performed gently, without applying force or sudden movements. Of course, treatments  will be painless.
 

• Osteopathy and baby, infant