This Plasma Treatment is Increasing the IVF Odds by 3x
I have so many browser tabs open. I’m clicking from one site to the next. I couldn’t believe what I just found. Why haven’t I heard of this? Why isn’t this more commonly talked about? But more importantly,
Why isn’t this treatment more accessible?
Have you heard about platelet-rich plasma or PRP? Neither have I. It’s a treatment that’s been around for years. Simply and relatively effective, its application is more widely known in the world of sports. History dates this treatment back to the 1970s where it was used in a study around wound healing. The 1980s showed PRP application in the dental field, followed by its application in orthopaedics and sports injuries in the 1990s.
So how does it work?
There’s four parts to our blood:
Plasma: made up of 90% water, this is the liquid component to our blood,
Platelets: smaller cell fragments that help with blood clots,
White blood cells: help us fight infections and injuries, and
Red blood cells: transport oxygen.
It starts with a minimally-invasive blood draw. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the components. After removing the red blood cells, plasma and platelets are 3-5x concentrated compared to the original blood sample. After the PRP is prepared, it’s injected back into the body typically at the injury site. The procedure is low risk and provides ample benefits for the majority of patients. According to the Integrative Naturopathic Medical Centre in Vancouver,
“While there is still much to learn about PRP, its history is a testament to the power of medical research and innovation in improving our ability to treat and heal injuries.”
“Heal injuries”… bingo.
My second round of laparoscopic excision surgery showed that I suffered from adhesions, a result of my body overcompensating to heal after my first round of endo surgery. If PRP treatment has been used to help heal injuries, can it help heal after significant abdominal surgery? As a ripple effect, could it help my chances to conceive?
The Journal of Reproductive Immunology published a 2016 study on this very topic:
How platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intra-uterine injection improve endometrial receptivity of intrauterine adhesions in women: A time-series-based self-controlled study.
The study’s findings confirmed my line of thinking. “We found that the key mechanism by which PRP treatment improves endometrial receptivity lies in the modulation of the endometrial immune environment and endometrial microbial community.” The JBRA Assisted Reproductive Journal’s 2017 study piggybacked on this finding. Based on the widely-known fact that pregnancy rates increase with a growing of endometrial thickness, their team concluded that PRP treatment stimulated endometrial thickness for women with thin lining.
A more recent 2023 study examined PRP’s impact on IVF success with a sample group of 60 women with an average age of 36. The data speaks volume.
The basal endometrial thickness, basal follicle number (>14 mm), estradiol value, oocyte count, and M2 oocyte count all increased significantly after PRP injection.
Ten of the 52 patients who received one session of PRP experienced spontaneous pregnancy (19.1% pregnancy rate).
Three of five patients who received two sessions of PRP experienced spontaneous pregnancy (60%).
Comparing the pregnant versus non-pregnant group 6 months post PRP, the pregnant group had a significant increase in the number of oocytes (an increase in 300%) and M2 oocytes (an increase in 250%) compared to the non-pregnant group (a minimal increase of 125% and 93% respectively).
Woah.
For women with low ovarian reserve who are trying to conceive (ahem, I qualify), this could mean a significant decrease in assisted reproductive technology (ART) costs with an increase in conception success rates. Although the study was limited to those who have been trying for less than 3 years, intraovarian PRP injections could be a game changer. As concluded in this 2023 study from a team based out of Romania,
“PRP administration seems to improve implantation, clinical pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, on-going pregnancy, live birth rates, and endometrial thickness in women with previous implantation failure.”
Wider application for women
The application of PRP treatment is helping women in a wide variety of use cases:
High-risk women after Caesarean section showed faster wound healing times using this more therapeutic approach.
Improving menstruation recovery rates of 60% of women had POI or poor ovarian response, 40% of menopausal women positively responded to PRP treatment and 80% of perimenopausal women had menstruation regularity.
Patients with vesicovaginal fistula, the communication between the bladder and vagina, benefited from PRP injections during and after their Latzko procedure. “In all cases, the vaginal wall at the site of the procedure healed without any signs of scarring, redness, or granulosa tissue. Moreover, patients did not complain about any urination difficulties or urinary tract disorders.”
Sign me up.
Accessibility and affordability is the tricky part. Some clinics like Ark IVF have PRP rejuvenation listed as a service on their site. They additionally claim that PRP injections will help eliminate inflammation and promote progesterone receptors, those who help with the healthy growth of the endometrium.
Prices vary depending on the state, clinic and the procedure type. I’ve seen lower estimates anywhere between $300-$1,600 with higher estimates between $2,000-$4,000. What the procedure is called is the other dilemma in finding a PRP clinic close to home. For example, Rejuvenating Fertility Center calls it “Ovarian Rejuvenation,” with a patient focus on women with low ovarian reserve, women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and women with early menopause.
CNY Fertility’s PRP treatment outlines two different procedures on their website depending on a patient’s specific circumstances and goals.
Goal #1: Improve egg quality & quantity.
Intraovarian PRP is done under monitored anesthesia where a needle with the PRP is guided by an ultrasound through the vaginal wall into the ovaries.
High volume intraovarian PRP is when PRP is slowly infused into the uterus using an SHG catheter and balloon. This technique allows the plasma to go through uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
Goal #2: Improve uterine lining growth & endometrial receptivity.
Typically done 48 hours prior to an embryo transfer, an IUI catheter is placed in the uterus where a small amount of PRP is infused.
For those who are looking to increase endometrial lining, there’s typically a series of “uterine wash” procedures. The first visit includes a lining check with another procedure scheduled 72 hours later if the lining still isn’t adequate for transfer.
PRP is not new to some clinics like the Center for Endometriosis Care. They’ve been using the treatment for years and have seen success when used in conjunction with laparoscopic excision and gynecologic endoscopy procedures. If it’s working well in small sample sizes in the endo community and in other medical sectors like sports and dental..
Why aren’t we having more conversations with our reproductive endocrinologists to include PRP in our treatment plan?
I’ll be including it in my discussion during my next appointment. I am intrigued and hopeful that this advancement will help many women increase their odds in conceiving.
Sunny side bump,
Olivia
