Update – Platelet Rich Plasma

Two years ago, we reported on a new technique that was being pioneered by scientists in Greece to provide perimenopausal women a second chance at fertility. The technique involved using Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), a blood product normally used to help wounds heal faster, to stimulate tissue regeneration in older ovaries.

Anecdotally, the scientists achieved some success within their own clinic. We reported on their claim that they had managed to restore the periods of almost 70% of the women who were included in their trial. The trial was conducted on 30 women between the ages of 46 and 49, all of whom had reached menopause.

Some fertility clinics are now offering PRP as one of their recommended add ons for older female patients.

How does it work?

It’s not entirely clear how it works, but some scientists suggest that PRP, which is made by centrifuging a sample of a person’s blood to isolate growth factors, may stimulate the creation of stem cells. These then play a role in regenerating tissue and producing ovulation hormones. This would explain the regenerative effect of PRP when it is injected into ovarian tissue.

However, it does seem to work and now there is some reasonable evidence to support its adoption by fertility clinics¹.

Researchers at Acibadem Maslak Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey utilised the technique in 510 women (age range 30-45 years old) diagnosed with Poor Ovarian Reserve (POR). The treatment resulted in higher AFC, higher serum AMH, lower serum FSH and a higher number of mature oocytes and cleavage and blastocyst stage embryos.

After PRP injection:

• 22 women (4.3%) conceived spontaneously
• 474 (92.9%) attempted IVF.

Among the women who attempted IVF, 312 (65.8%) generated embryos and underwent embryo transfer. Of these, 83 (17.5%) achieved a pregnancy, and 54 (11.4%) achieved sustained implantation/live birth.

The researchers stated, “PRP resulted in improvement of ovarian reserve parameters, a pregnancy rate of 20.5% and SI/LB rate of 12.9%. Our findings suggest that PRP treatment may be considered in women with POR.”

However, this is not a definitive green light for the technique and the researchers are quick to offer a caveat in this respect, cautioning, “For wider clinical application, its clinical efficacy will need to be demonstrated in prospective randomised clinical trials.”

That caveat aside, the technique seems to show promise. Whether it should be routinely offered to older patients with POR will continue to be a matter of some debate until additional research further clarifies the picture.