PRP Therapy for Thin Uterine Lining & Recurrent Implantation Failure
Reviewed by Lina Akopians, MD, PhD, FACOG
IVF can sometimes bring unexpected challenges. If you’re starting your family-building journey and it isn’t going as planned, the obstacles may feel heavy, but there’s still hope.
Emerging treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy offer promise for women who may be struggling to see success with IVF. At Beverly Hills Reproductive Center, we offer this innovative, nonsurgical treatment as an option to support your path to parenthood.
Looking to grow your family through IVF? Learn more about our IVF clinic in Beverly Hills.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrated sample of your own platelets, which contain growth factors that support healing and regeneration. These growth factors play an important role in repairing tissue, stimulating new cell growth, and improving blood flow.
PRP has been used in many areas of medicine, from sports injuries to dermatology, because of its ability to encourage tissue healing and repair.
PRP for Fertility and IVF Treatments
Embryo transfer is a key milestone in the IVF process — the point where all the effort of follicle stimulation, egg retrieval, and fertilization comes together. Creating the best possible environment for that embryo is important.
PRP is being studied in fertility care as a way to help create a receptive environment for embryo transfer.
How can platelet-rich plasma treatment help with IVF?
For an embryo transfer to succeed, the uterine lining needs to be thick enough to support implantation. Many fertility specialists aim for the uterine lining to be about 6-8 millimeters thick before transfer to improve chances of implantation.
By delivering concentrated growth factors directly to the uterus, PRP can thicken the uterine lining in some cases — giving embryos a better chance to implant and develop into a healthy pregnancy.
Who is PRP fertility therapy for?
Physicians sometimes recommend PRP in fertility treatment plans for patients with:
Persistent thin uterine lining: When multiple forms of estrogen therapy haven’t been successful in thickening the lining.
Recurrent implantation failure: When multiple IVF cycles with euploid embryos haven’t resulted in pregnancy. (Have you experienced this? Learn more about recurrent implantation failure and treatment options.)
Uterine scarring or Asherman’s syndrome: When scar tissue inside of the uterus makes it more difficult for embryos to implant. Asherman’s syndrome can happen after intrauterine surgery.
Low BMI: When low body mass index causes low estrogen levels and affects uterine lining thickness.
PRP is not a first-line treatment. It’s offered in select cases where conventional options haven’t led to a receptive uterine environment. If you’ve had challenges with embryo implantation and infertility, PRP may be an option worth exploring with your provider.
What is the PRP fertility treatment process like?
PRP for IVF is completed a few days before embryo transfer.
If PRP is part of your IVF treatment plan, here’s what you can expect:
Preparation: Before PRP treatment, your fertility specialist will order lab work to ensure PRP is safe and appropriate for you. Dr. Akopian’s lab work before PRP includes a complete blood count (CBC), platelet count, infectious disease testing, and other panels.
Blood draw: In the beginning of your appointment, you’ll have a sample of blood drawn. The blood will go into a machine called a centrifuge which separates and concentrates the platelets.
Infusion: Your medical team will collect your platelet-rich plasma and infuse it into your uterus using a thin catheter. This process is similar to an intrauterine insemination — it’s noninvasive, only takes a few minutes, and is considered just mildly uncomfortable. You’ll be awake for the process and will be able to return to normal activities right away.
After the procedure: You may feel light cramping or notice spotting, but these symptoms are usually temporary.
Is PRP for fertility safe?
Because PRP is created from your own blood, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is very low. But as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks, including infection or temporary discomfort.
For your safety, Dr. Akopians’s team:
Reviews your lab results to confirm you’re a good candidate.
Speaks with you about possible side effects and what to watch for after the procedure.
Checks in with you throughout your IVF cycle and monitors your health.
Does PRP for infertility really work?
PRP in fertility care is considered an experimental treatment. Because current research is limited to small studies and early trials, it’s too early to know the true PRP IVF success rate.
While more research is needed, some reports suggest benefits. Dr. Akopians has personally seen cases where patients with persistently thin uterine linings went on to conceive after PRP treatment.
Though not a guarantee, PRP offers an additional way to improve the chances of embryo implantation. In many cases, the option is worth exploring.
Learn More About PRP Treatment for Fertility in Beverly Hills
At Beverly Hills Reproductive Center, PRP is just one of the advanced tools we offer to support patients facing fertility challenges. If you’re struggling with a thin uterine lining, recurrent implantation failure, or repeated setbacks in IVF cycles, we can help you understand if PRP infusion — or another treatment — may be right for you.
Request a consultation with Dr. Akopians to learn more about PRP in fertility treatments and see if it might be helpful as a part of your personalized treatment plan.