In the realm of reproductive medicine, advancements are constantly being made to address the challenges faced by couples trying to grow their family. Ovarian rejuvenation is a cutting-edge procedure that has gained attention in recent years for its potential to enhance fertility and offer hope to those struggling with certain reproductive difficulties. In this blog, we’ll look at what it is, how it works, and its implications for families seeking to start or expand their families.
WHAT IS OVARIAN REJUVENATION?
Ovarian rejuvenation is a medical procedure that aims to enhance ovarian function and promote follicle development in women facing diminished ovarian reserve or premature ovarian failure. It is also for women whose egg quality is not as expected. The procedure involves an injection into the ovaries, with the goal of stimulating increased blood supply to ovaries. improving the overall health and quality of the existing ones.
In other fields of medicine these injections have been shown to increase healing and speed up recovery in patients with orthopedic and sports injuries. There are validated studies in other fields of medicine but this is new to Reproductive Medicine. As there is reason to believe that by increasing blood supply we may help women, we have been performing these procedures at Fertility Partnership. Many women who are having these issues now do not have tie to wait for a large clinical study to prove its benefit. As there is little or no risk to these injections we have moved forward. We have seen over the last 18 months that there is a benefit for some patients, many of whom have had remarkable results.
HOW IS THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED
The ovarian rejuvenation procedure typically begins with the collection of a small blood sample, 60 milliliters, from the patient. This blood sample is then processed in a centrifuge to separate the Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP which is rich in bioactive substances that can increase the blood supply to the injected area. This is carefully injected into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance.
WHAT CAN IT DO?
We believe that an increase in blood supply to the ovaries caused by PRP injections can increase the number of eggs collected and their quality. We measure blood levels of markers of egg supply such as FSH and AMH and see a rise in most patients. We have also seen that couples who have had difficulty making genetically normal embryos often succeed after Ovarian Rejuvenation. Why would this happen? Because increased blood supply brings more oxygen and eggs need that to have the energy to do all that they need to do to divide and grow. Also, injecting some of this PRP fluid into the uterine cavity may increase the thickness of the endometrium to help an embryo attach at transfer.
While ovarian rejuvenation is still considered experimental, it represents an exciting development in the realm of reproductive medicine. Our team is on the forefront of this innovation, and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
