Can platelet rich plasma improve ovary function?

This study looked at whether injections of platelet-rich plasma could improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in women with poor ovary function. This study found that patients treated with PRP had improved ovary function and higher rates of pregnancy.

One cause of female infertility is a poor ovarian reserve (POR), where a woman has only a few high-quality eggs. AMH and FSH are two critical hormones involved in reproduction. Abnormal levels of these hormones in the blood can indicate POR. Another indicator of POR is a low antral follicle count (AFC). AFC is the number of eggs remaining in a woman's egg supply.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a portion of blood that can be given as a transfusion. PRP contains a variety of growth factors that promote tissue repair. Previous studies suggest that PRP may be effective in repairing the lining of the womb. Whether PRP can help women with POR is unclear.

This study had 83 women who were seeking IVF. 46 patients had 3 cycles of PRP. Blood was collected and plasma was separated from the blood. Then, PRP was injected into the area around each ovary. After PRP, these patients had IVF. 37 patients had IVF only without PRP injections (control group).

After 3 cycles of PRP, the levels of AMH, FSH, and AFC all improved significantly. The average AMH levels were 1.63 times higher after treatment. Average FSH levels decreased by 33%. AFC increased by 1.75-fold after treatment.

On average, the PRP group had significantly more eggs collected before IVF than the control group (5 eggs vs. 3 eggs). All patients in the PRP group had top-quality or medium-quality eggs collected compared to 55% of patients in the control group.

Significantly more patients in the PRP group (26.1%) had a positive pregnancy test compared to the control group (5.4%). Significantly more patients in the PRP group also had a pregnancy confirmed on ultrasound (23.9%) compared to the control group (54%).

This study found that patients treated with PRP had improved ovary function and higher rates of pregnancy after IVF.

Both the patients and their doctors knew whether PRP treatment was used. This may have influenced the results. More studies are needed to evaluate the effects of PRP on pregnancy outcomes.