What is ovarian rejuvenation?
Ovarian rejuvenation is a relatively new and evolving area of reproductive medicine. It encompasses a range of medical therapies aimed at restoring or enhancing ovarian function and fertility in women, particularly those experiencing age-related declines or infertility issues.
These procedures, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, stem cell therapy, and hormonal treatments, seek to address age-related declines in ovarian function or conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). By stimulating tissue repair, follicle development, and egg quality, ovarian rejuvenation offers hope to individuals experiencing infertility challenges.
This area of fertility medicine evolved from early experiments with hormonal therapies in the 1930s to modern innovations over the last few decades like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapy. Continual advancements reflect a growing understanding of ovarian function and the ongoing pursuit of effective fertility solutions.
PRP treatments are among the most studied approaches in ovarian rejuvenation. PRP is derived from a patient’s own blood and contains growth factors that may stimulate tissue repair and regeneration in the ovaries, potentially improving egg quality and ovarian function.
PRP therapy in fertility medicine represents a pioneering approach, leveraging the body’s natural resources to enhance ovarian function, fostering renewed hope for those facing infertility challenges.
What is ovarian PRP therapy?
Ovarian Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative approach in fertility treatment aimed at rejuvenating ovarian function and enhancing fertility outcomes in women experiencing age-related declines or infertility issues.
It is recommended in an effort to improve the ovarian function, in women with premature ovarian failure or reduced ovarian reserve for the age.
During the procedure, a small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn and centrifuged to separate the platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors and other bioactive substances. This concentrated PRP solution is then injected directly into the ovaries or ovarian tissue under ultrasound guidance. This procedure is similar to the egg collection under sedation. It lasts about 30 minutes and requires no further hospitalisation.
The growth factors present in PRP are believed to stimulate tissue repair, promote angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), and recruit stem cells to the ovaries. These effects lead to improvements in ovarian function, including enhanced follicle development, increased ovarian reserve, and improved egg quality.
Ovarian PRP therapy has the potential to increase the chances of natural conception or improve outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). In most cases it is successful, although the final result depends on many factors, most notably the woman’s age, the present condition of the ovaries, and for how long this dysfunction has been ongoing.
- Ovarian PRP therapy aims to enhance fertility outcomes through natural healing and regeneration mechanisms.
- It involves injecting concentrated platelet-rich plasma directly into the ovaries.
- The PRP injection contains growth factors believed to stimulate tissue repair and follicle development.
What is uterine (PRP) therapy?
Uterine Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an emerging treatment in reproductive medicine, offering a new approach to addressing challenges related to endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. This innovative therapy involves the extraction of a small volume of the patient’s blood, followed by centrifugation to isolate platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors and cytokines. Subsequently, this concentrated PRP solution is carefully administered into the uterine lining.
The idea behind uterine PRP therapy lies in its potential to enhance endometrial regeneration and create a more favorable environment for embryo implantation. The growth factors present in PRP may stimulate angiogenesis, tissue repair, and cellular proliferation within the endometrium, thereby promoting its growth, thickening, and receptivity to incoming embryos. The precise manner in which the PRP infusion works in the endometrium is not known, but there is strong evidence of significant improvement in cases of women with failed IVF treatments and in combination with a constantly thin endometrium.
By optimising the quality and receptivity of the uterine lining, uterine PRP therapy aims to improve the success rates of various assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer. This approach offers a promising adjunct to existing fertility treatments, particularly for individuals with recurrent implantation failure or thin endometrium. At Life Clinic the results in recent years support this and that is why we recommend endometrial PRP to women who have thin endometrium during an assisted reproduction cycle.
- Uterine PRP therapy targets endometrial health for improved embryo implantation.
- It involves injecting concentrated platelet-rich plasma into the uterine lining.
- PRP contains growth factors that may enhance endometrial regeneration and receptivity.
Further reading....
Explore the following list of recent scholarly articles for further reading on platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and its applications in fertility medicine:
.1/ ResearchGate. (2021). Ovarian Rejuvenation Using Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348387312_Ovarian_Rejuvenation_Using_Autologous_Platelet-Rich_Plasma
2/ ResearchGate. (2020). The use of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus no intervention in women with low ovarian reserve undergoing fertility treatment: a non-randomized interventional study. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339093868_The_use_of_autologous_platelet-rich_plasma_PRP_versus_no_intervention_in_women_with_low_ovarian_reserve_undergoing_fertility_treatment_a_non-randomized_interventional_study
3/ ResearchGate. (2023). Intraovarian Platelet-rich Plasma Administration Induced Spontaneous Ovulation in an Anovulatory Woman With PCOS. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370203336_Intraovarian_Platelet-rich_Plasma_Administration_Induced_Spontaneous_Ovulation_in_an_Anovulatory_Woman_With_PCOS
4/ ResearchGate. (2023). Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Efficacy on Endometrial Thickness and Infertility: A Single-Centre Experience from Romania. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373387727_Autologous_Platelet-Rich_Plasma_PRP_Efficacy_on_Endometrial_Thickness_and_Infertility_A_Single-Centre_Experience_from_Romania