Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Applications in Ovarian Function

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a regenerative strategy in reproductive medicine aimed at enhancing ovarian function and fertility outcomes. PRP is prepared by centrifuging a patient’s own blood to concentrate platelets, which release a milieu of growth factors, cytokines and extracellular vesicles upon activation. When injected into ovarian stroma, PRP may promote angiogenesis, modulate local inflammation and stimulate dormant follicles, potentially improving ovarian reserve markers such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC), reducing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and increasing oocyte yield. Clinically, PRP has been investigated in women with poor ovarian response, diminished ovarian reserve, primary ovarian insufficiency, perimenopause and menopause. Patient cohorts have reported improvements in hormonal profiles, follicular development and, in some cases, spontaneous or assisted pregnancies. Preclinical studies in animal models support these findings, demonstrating enhanced folliculogenesis and restoration of ovulation. Despite promising results, heterogeneity in preparation protocols, dosing regimens and patient selection criteria underscores the need for standardisation and well-powered randomised trials. Nonetheless, PRP represents a minimally invasive, autologous approach with potential global applicability to address age-related fertility decline and pathological ovarian insufficiency.

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Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Applications in Ovarian Function publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in autologous platelet-rich plasma applications in ovarian function across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): Autologous concentrate of platelets obtained from whole blood, rich in growth factors and cytokines that promote tissue regeneration.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): Glycoprotein hormone secreted by ovarian follicles, serving as a biomarker of ovarian reserve.

Antral follicle count (AFC): Ultrasonographic count of small antral follicles in the ovary, indicative of remaining follicular pool.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): Pituitary gonadotropin that regulates follicular development; elevated levels may indicate diminished ovarian function.

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI): Condition defined by loss of normal ovarian function before age 40, characterised by amenorrhoea and hormonal dysregulation.

References

1. The effect of ovarian injection of autologous platelet rich plasma in patients with poor ovarian responder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023).
2. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment of the ovaries significantly improves fertility parameters and reproductive outcomes in diminished ovarian reserve patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Ovarian Research (2024).
3. Reactivating Ovarian Function through Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Intraovarian Infusion: Pilot Data on Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, Perimenopausal, Menopausal, and Poor Responder Women. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2020).
4. Intra-ovarian injection of platelet-rich plasma into ovarian tissue promoted rejuvenation in the rat model of premature ovarian insufficiency and restored ovulation rate via angiogenesis modulation. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2020).
5. Ovarian reserve parameters and IVF outcomes in 510 women with poor ovarian response (POR) treated with intraovarian injection of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP). Aging (2022).