Recently, an increasing number of fertility clinics are implementing Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy into the uterus and ovaries of patients presenting with an exceptionally thin endometrial lining or severe diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Let us take a deep look into what this treatment entails.
PRP therapy has become a major topic of interest among fertility patients who face recurrent implantation failures due to an excessively thin uterine lining, or who struggle to mature even a single follicle due to advanced ovarian depletion.
PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. The procedure involves drawing a patient’s own blood, placing it in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets, and then injecting the highly concentrated plasma matrix into damaged ligaments or cartilage. Traditionally, this autologous (자가 유래) regenerative protocol was utilized primarily within the fields of orthopedics and dermatology. Because autologous PRP is rich in cellular signaling agents, it has been clinically proven to heal damaged bone, nerves, blood vessels, tissues, and muscles while triggering cellular regeneration and providing robust pain relief.
How exactly did this orthopedic tool seamlessly cross over into the field of reproductive medicine?
The catalyst occurred approximately seven years ago when a Greek research team successfully utilized PRP therapy to reactivate the ovaries of postmenopausal women, effectively restoring their biological capacity to conceive. Following that landmark event, reproductive endocrinologists worldwide began introducing the protocol to optimize ovarian reserves and refine uterine receptivity.
At the time, Dr. Konstantinos Sfakianoudis, a gynecologist and fertility specialist at the ‘Genesis Athens’ clinic in Greece, announced: “By infusing autologous PRP directly into the ovaries of menopausal women, we successfully triggered the resumption of their menstrual cycles, allowing us to harvest viable oocytes (eggs). Furthermore, we succeeded in fertilizing these retrieved eggs with sperm.” In one remarkable clinical case, a 45-year-old woman who had been in premature menopause for five years experienced a complete resumption of her period six months after receiving an intra-ovarian PRP infusion.
The ultimate destination of any fertility journey is a healthy live birth. As leading domestic fertility centers actively adopt PRP protocols, data demonstrates that the procedure is significantly contributing to boosting pregnancy success rates for struggling couples.
How Autologous PRP Revitalizes the Endometrium and Ovaries
Platelets, a vital cellular component of our blood, function as biological factories that secrete an array of essential growth factors during the human tissue-healing cascade. These growth factors actively accelerate cellular proliferation, tissue remodeling, and angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation). Consequently, when autologous PRP is precisely infused into the ovaries of postmenopausal or severe DOR patients, it can jumpstart dormant ovarian tissues, thereby restoring spontaneous ovulation and regular menstrual cycles. If autologous PRP can help a patient mature even one single high-quality egg, it introduces a viable window of conception for women of advanced maternal age.
Simultaneously, autologous PRP is carving out a revolutionary role in treating chronic endometrial insufficiency. The endometrium (자궁내막) is arguably the most critical anatomical soil for a pregnancy, as it is the precise site where an embryo must successfully implant.
Statistically, when the lining is excessively thin—measuring at an average of 5.4 mm or less during the peak ovulatory window—implantation success rates plummet. However, clinical data published by CHA Bundang Medical Center revealed that following intrauterine PRP infusions, patients experienced an average lining thickness increase of over 0.6 mm alongside a significant improvement in overall endometrial health, directly translating into successful pregnancies.
It is crucial to emphasize, however, that to ensure maximum safety and clinical efficacy, PRP therapy should exclusively be sought at advanced fertility centers staffed by embryologists and research teams possessing extensive experience in advanced plasma processing.
📋 Ovarian PRP Therapy: Candidates & Clinical Efficacy
- Primary Candidates:
- Patients experiencing severe diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) where the number of retrieved eggs is consistently 3 or fewer.
- Anovulatory patients facing prolonged amenorrhea (무월경) due to metabolic blockages like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
- Patients whose follicles consistently exhibit poor IVF fertilization rates or suboptimal oocyte quality.
- Proven Clinical Efficacy:
- Triggers a measurable upward shift in Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and related ovarian function markers.
- Significantly increases natural conception rates as well as IVF pregnancy success rates.
- Improves oocyte maturity, fertilization kinetics, and the overall yield of high-quality Day-5 blastocysts during IVF cycles.
📋 Endometrial PRP Therapy: Candidates & Clinical Efficacy
- Primary Candidates:
- Patients whose endometrial thickness fails to exceed 5 mm during the peak ovulatory phase.
- Proven Clinical Efficacy:
- Increases the uterine lining by an average of 0.6 mm or more, driving it toward a highly stable, uniform thickness ideal for embryo reception.
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