PRP – What are techniques for the rejuvenation of the ovaries?

Estefanía Rodríguez, medical co-director and expert in reproductive medicine at the Basque Fertility Institute (IVF-Life Donostia), explains the keys to this type of treatment.

Over the years, the human body undergoes various changes that lead to reduced reproductive capacity, affect the quality of our genetic material and, often, cause the so-called infertility. According to the national registry of the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF), infertility affects between 15% and 17% of the population.

Professionals in the world of reproductive medicine have evolved to keep assisted reproduction techniques current and strive for excellence in their treatments to meet the needs of patients.

The medical co-director of the Basque Fertility Institute (IVF-Life Donostia) and expert in gynecology and reproductive medicine, Estefanía Rodríguez Ferradas, explains what ovarian rejuvenation consists of and to what extent it helps patients who undergo this treatment.

What is the purpose of ovarian rejuvenation techniques?

E.R. Die Techniken zur Verjüngung der Eierstöcke ergeben sich aus einem Bedürfnis, das durch die gesellschaftlichen Veränderungen hervorgerufen wird, die zu einer Verschiebung des Geburtenalters führen. On a biological level, women lose many eggs after the age of 35, and this is a problem that seriously affects our fertility.

Nowadays, due to the improved working status of women and their involvement in this field, it is becoming increasingly difficult to have a first child. For this reason, we need to find reproductive solutions to improve women’s fertility. An example of this are the techniques for the rejuvenation of the ovaries, which try to increase the chances of those who need them to become pregnant.

What is the platelet-rich plasma biostimulation technique?

E.R. PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma is the patient’s own plasma containing growth factors derived from the patient’s platelets. These growth factors are activated, in this case in the ovaries, increasing vascularization and blood flow in the ovaries, leading to activation of certain cells that provide a higher number of eggs for fertilization.

We first draw blood, prepare it using special techniques, and thus gain access to these factors, which allow us to improve the function of the ovaries. This effect may occur sooner or later, which is why we follow up patients in detail.

What improvements does the patient show before and after this type of treatment?

E.R. Ultimately, the technique aims to improve the availability of the patient’s oocytes to obtain a higher number of usable oocytes so that a reproductive technique can be performed, thus achieving better results.

With this procedure, we achieve that the patient’s reproductive prognosis improves by improving access to this oocyte reserve and selecting the oocytes with the best genetic quality.

Which patients come to the Basque Fertility Institute in need of this treatment?

E.R. Mainly, we find many cases of people who have already participated in reproductive medical procedures and who have been excluded from participating in different treatments where, due to their condition, they have not been offered solutions.

If the results of ultrasound examinations or even previous attempts at stimulation showed no response, other types of stimulation were ruled out and other techniques such as fertilization by egg donation were offered because the patient was unable to conceive with her own eggs.

Ovarian rejuvenation therefore enables the birth of a child with the patient’s own oocytes and offers the possibility of not having to resort to foreign genetic material and of genetically assigning the child entirely to the mother and father.

In what cases is this type of therapy indicated?

E.R. This treatment is specifically recommended for all women with a poor reproductive prognosis due to a low number of available eggs. However, many patients can conceive naturally, thanks to spontaneous ovulation that did not occur before the treatment.

The age spectrum is wide and, in general, better results are obtained in younger women, as the quality of the oocytes is usually better, but the use of this technique is not excluded in older women, in whom it can improve the prognosis.

With age, the quality of eggs is not as good, but this technique improves the chances of pregnancy in many women.

Do you have doubts about how to start your treatment?

To learn more about the different treatment methods or to schedule an initial consultation with one of the IVF-Life specialists, please click on the following link: https://www.ivf-spain.com/de/partners/eizellspende/