Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment Increase In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Success in the Infertile Population?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is obtained by centrifuging the platelet-rich portion of the patient's own blood. The objective of our study is to retrospectively examine the impact of intraovarian PRP injection on infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve, specifically focusing on the oocyte count, oocyte quality, and endometrial thinning.

A retrospective assessment was conducted on cases who had intraovarian PRP injection at the in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Gazi University School of Medicine hospital. The review encompasses the period from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2020. The endometrial thickness, follicle count of greater than 14 millimeters, estradiol levels, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and antral follicle count were assessed during the menstrual cycle both prior to and within a period of 1-6 months following the PRP procedure. Twenty nonpregnant patients who had IVF before and 4-6 months after PRP were admitted to the post-PRP IVF cycle. The quantification of oocytes and M2 oocytes was conducted both prior to and subsequent to PRP treatment.

Among 120 cases, only 60 cases who fulfilled inclusion criteria were analyzed. The basal endometrial thickness, basal follicle number (>14 mm), estradiol value, oocyte count, and M2 oocyte count exhibited a statistically significant increase following the administration of PRP injection (p<0.001). The basal FSH value exhibited a notable drop following the administration of PRP injection, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.002). In the pregnant group, the number of oocytes obtained with oocyte pick-up (OPU) increased by 300%, and in the nonpregnant group, the increase was 125% only. The number of M2 oocytes obtained with OPU increased by 250% in the pregnant group, while it was 93% in the nonpregnant group.

Ultimately, the affordability of PRP production and its considerable theoretical efficacy have the potential to substantially decrease the expenses associated with assisted reproductive technology procedures. In the present scenario, the administration of an intraovarian PRP injection may be contemplated as a therapeutic intervention for women exhibiting diminished ovarian reserve.