Fertility dysfunction typically has a multitude of both physical and emotional related issues. Pathogenesis of reproductive structures is a direct correlation associated with fertility dysfunction. Tissue hypoxia is a frequent clinical finding leading to microcirculatory dysfunction.

Many women with a history of pelvic and related inflammatory conditions suffer considerable scarring and pelvic adhesions resulting in a significant barrier to tissue capillary dynamics resulting in low and inadequate tissue oxygenation (hypoxia). The lack of fertility and unfortunate terminations are a direct consequence of hypoxia due to ischemia. Males with fertility issues often have sub clinical prostate dysfunction again resulting in low sperm count and spermatogenesis dysfunction as a consequence of micro-circulatory dysfunction – hypoxia.

Hyperbaric Oxygenation provides an enormous opportunity to assist the fertility outcomes of patients.

This increased oxygen delivery increases the body's ability to kill chronic underlying opportunistic infections including bacteria and viral based DNA infections (Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Herpes strains etc) and promote healing. HBOT can also facilitate the merits of your specific immune stimulating programs including herbs and other nutritional regimes.

• HyperOxygenation of the blood elevates the amount of dissolved oxygen and results in the correction of tissue hypoxia. This significantly enhances immune capabilities, enabling greater wound healing, infection control, and alleviation of tissue ischemia and the dissociation of endotoxin accumulation

• An oxygen pulse (HBOT) of up to 2 hours daily enhances fibroblast migration and mitosis. High lactate levels (originating in wounds and tissue subjected to chronic impaired circulation) and hyperoxia also combine to induce greater collagen synthesis. This directly promotes and ripens the tissue for fertility

• Increased fibroblast collagen synthesis enhances capillary growth, which further raises the partial pressure of oxygen in an incremental fashion as neovascularisation (new capillary formation within ischemic zones) progresses

• HBOT significantly enhances white blood cell (WBC) function, killing phagocytized bacteria. Elevated oxygen levels increase the oxygen free radicals and hydrogen peroxide formation in the white cell lysosomes, improving antimicrobial activity

• HBOT improves the outcome of inflamed and edematous tissue, reversing cellular leakage and fluid loss into surrounding tissue. HBOT reinstates normal lymphatic drainage, reducing painful inflammation and swelling. Patients suffering chronic PIDs and related tissue inflammatory changes are immediately benefited with HBOT application

• Selected prescribed drugs and immune stimulating vitamins (injectables) are enhanced with increased tissue oxygenation

• HBOT brings about the mechanical compression of abnormal ‘bubbles’ in the body secondary to decompression sickness, gas embolism or other iatrogenic sources

• Increased oxygen partial pressure increases the nitrogen gradient, boosting nitrogen elimination from the body which is greatly increased in patients with inadequate fertility responses. Increased oxygen partial pressure directly reduces the effects of carbon monoxide on tissue

The inclusion of Hyperbaric Oxygenation provides enormous benefit and mat well make a definite break-through in the treatment and management of infertility.

Typically patients receive a base line of between 40-60 hours of HBOT inconjunction with appropriate immune stimulating injections. Patient with complex pelvic dysfunction, post surgical scarring including abdominal and spinal related typically require considerably higher rates of HBOT to penetrate the deeper structures. Generally post operative patients require between 80-100 hours and or greater to changes tissue substrates and revascularise the target region. These individuals generally require pre and post ultrasound and often MRI to evaluate HBOT changes.

Hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of patients with chronic congestive prostatitis and lower fertility [Article in Russian]

Zadoev SA, Evdokimov VV, Rumiantsev VB, Osmolovskii EO.

Due to deteriorated demographic indices in the country, male infertility is a highly pressing problem. Chronic prostatitis is one of its causes. Hyperbaric oxygenation was used to affect male genital microcirculation, thus improving the spermatic morphological and functional characteristics. Positive effects of the method are ascribed not only to better microcirculation, but also to improved redox processes in spermatogenesis.

Restoration of reproductive ability in patients with chronic prostatitis [Article in Ukrainian]

Published: Urologiia. 2001 Jan-Feb;(1):27-30

Zhyla VV, Danyliuk IuO, Hulei IaT, Andrusyk VI, Maksimenko VS.

Hyperbaric oxygen and ovarian follicular stimulation for in vitro fertilization: a pilot study

Published: Fertil Steril. 2005 Jan;83(1):226-8.

Van Voorhis BJ, Greensmith JE, Dokras A, Sparks AE, Simmons ST, Syrop CH.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.

Our objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) as an adjunct to IVF therapy in women with a poor prognosis for pregnancy in a prospective observational pilot study. We conclude that HBO is well tolerated by women undergoing IVF treatment and that further study is required to determine whether this is an efficacious adjuvant therapy for women being treated by IVF.

Report of the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) in an unusual case of secondary infertility

Leverment J, Turner R, Bowman M, Cooke CJ.

Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia 2031.

We report the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) in the treatment of an unusual case of secondary infertility. The patient had failed to conceive after a 1-year period of in-vitro fertilization, during which oral sildenafil had also been administered. However she became pregnant after an IVF cycle and the use of adjunctive HBO2 and sildenafil, which was administered intravaginally on this occasion. The possible mechanisms of action of HBO2 in this case are discussed.

State of the sex hormone receptor in the endometrium of women with late habitual abortion – hyperbaric may assist

[Article in Russian] Published: Probl Endokrinol (Mosk). 1991 Jan-Feb;37(1):26-8.

Asribekova MK, Karpova SK, Murashko LE, Sidel'nikova VM, Malysheva VA, Proshina IV.

A study was made of estrogen and progesterone reception of the endometrial cytoplasmatic and nuclear fractions of healthy women and women suffering from late habitual abortion in the early proliferative and late secretory phases of the menstrual cycle. Reception of both sex hormones in the nuclei and estrogen binding in the endometrial cytosol of women with late habitual abortion was significantly higher than that in healthy women. The estrogen receptors/progesterone receptors ratio in the cytosol in the pathological endometrium at the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle was higher than in the normal one. Hyperbaric therapy given to such patients resulted in complete normalization of endometrial sex hormones reception.