What is PRP treatment?
PRP treatment (autologous platelet-rich plasma) is the treatment of using your own blood plasma enriched with platelets, which contain a large number of growth factors. Growth factors play a pivotal role in the regeneration of tissues and the activation of cell growth. When highly concentrated growth factors are injected into damaged or affected tissue, then regenerative processes may be activated.
How can PRP treatment rejuvenate the endometrium?
PRP may be very helpful in cases of persistently thin endometrium before the embryo(s) are transferred inside the womb. The presence of chronic inflammation and scarring of the endometrium can make embryo implantation difficult in both natural pregnancy and IVF cycles. Application of the PRP injections aims to eliminate inflammation and promote the activity of the progesterone receptors that stimulate healthy growth of the endometrium.
What are the stages of PRP treatment?
PRP treatment is carried out in several stages. Initially, a few millilitres of peripheral blood are taken from the woman. Subsequently, this blood is placed in a device and centrifuged, which helps divide the blood into its different components. Red blood cells and leukocytes are removed, while platelets are maintained and concentrated. This technique allows us to obtain platelet-rich plasma with platelet concentration approximately five times higher than in peripheral blood.
The whole process takes minutes and the infusion of the PRP in the endometrium is brief and pain free.
How safe is PRP treatment?
No side effects of PRP therapy have been reported. As the woman’s own blood is used to produce the platelet-rich plasma, no allergic reactions are expected.
The application of PRP-injections can work differently for different women.
How can I arrange PRP with Ark IVF?
Please contact us at info@arkivf.co.uk to arrange a video consultation with our Medical Director, Dr George Christopoulos, who will answer all your queries and help you schedule your procedure as appropriate.
Is there good-quality, scientific evidence of the efficacy and safety of PRP?
Yes. There is a considerable and expanding number of studies supporting the use of endometrial PRP treatment with publications in high-impact medical journals. Some of
the most recent publications can be seen below.
1. | Treatment of thin endometrium with autologous platelet-rich plasma: a pilot study. Zadehmodarres S, Salehpour S, Saharkhiz N, Nazari L.
JBRA Assist Reprod. 2017 Feb 1;21(1):54-56. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20170013.
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2. | Can autologous platelet rich plasma expand endometrial thickness and improve pregnancy rate during frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle? A randomized clinical trial.Eftekhar M, Neghab N, Naghshineh E, Khani P.
Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Dec;57(6):810-813. doi: 10.1016/j.tjog. 2018.10.007. |
3. | Autologous platelet-rich plasma promotes endometrial growth and improves pregnancy outcome during in vitro fertilization. Chang Y, Li J, Chen Y, Wei L, Yang X, Shi Y, Liang X.
Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Jan 15;8(1):1286-90.
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4. | Effects of autologous platelet-rich plasma on endometrial expansion in patients undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer: A double-blind RCT.
Nazari L, Salehpour S, Hoseini S, Zadehmodarres S, Azargashb E. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2019 Jul 29;17(6):443-448. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v17i6.4816.
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5. | Intrauterine infusion of autologous platelet-rich plasma in women undergoing assisted reproduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Maleki-Hajiagha A, Razavi M, Rouholamin S, Rezaeinejad M, Maroufizadeh S, Sepidarkish M. J Reprod Immunol. 2020 Feb;137:103078. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2019.103078. |
6. | In vitro evidence that platelet-rich plasma stimulates cellular processes involved in endometrial regeneration.
Aghajanova L, Houshdaran S, Balayan S, Manvelyan E, Irwin JC, Huddleston HG, Giudice LC. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2018 May;35(5):757-770. doi: 10.1007/s10815-018-1130-8. |
7. | Autologous platelet-rich plasma infusion improves clinical pregnancy rate in frozen embryo transfer cycles for women with thin endometrium.
Chang Y, Li J, Wei LN, Pang J, Chen J, Liang X. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Jan;98(3):e14062.
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8. | Improved in vitro fertilization success and pregnancy outcome with autologous platelet-rich plasma treatment in unexplained infertility patients that had repeated implantation failure history.
Coksuer H, Akdemir Y, Ulas Barut M. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2019 Sep;35(9):815-818. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2019.1597344.
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9. | Platelet-rich plasma or blood-derived products to improve endometrial receptivity?
Bos-Mikich A, Ferreira MO, de Oliveira R, Frantz N. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2019 Apr;36(4):613-620. doi: 10.1007/s10815-018-1386-z.
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10. | Effect of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment on Refractory Thin Endometrium During the Frozen Embryo Transfer Cycle: A Pilot Study.
Kim H, Shin JE, Koo HS, Kwon H, Choi DH, Kim JH. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019 Feb 14;10:61. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00061. |