The effect of endometrial PRP on fertility outcomes in women with implantation failure or thin endometrium

Objective

To evaluate the effect of intrauterine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment on frozen–thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles in patients with recurrent implantation failure.

Materials and methods

The study group consisted of 150 patients. The patients were grouped only as those with thin endometria, those with recurrent implantation failure (RIF), and those with both thin endometria and RIF. All participants underwent frozen embryo transfer. The control group consisted of a total of 150 patients who had normal endometrial thickness and did not have a history of RIF and who presented to the clinic due to unexplained infertility. The rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth were compared among the groups in terms of fertility outcomes.

Results

In 150 patients with a thin endometrium or a history of RIF who underwent PRP, the endometrial thickness was significantly greater than the pre-PRP endometrial thickness, and this value was found to be statistically significant (7.38 mm vs. 7.96 mm, p < 0.001). In the thin endometrium group, there was also a statistically significant difference between the endometrial thickness measured before and after PRP (5.85 mm vs 6.65 mm, p < 0.001). The rate of not achieving pregnancy in the RIF group without PRP was found to be significantly greater than that in the control group (53.1% vs 28.7%, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in pregnancy rates between the PRP groups. Morever, no statistically significant relationship was found between pregnancy status and whether or not PRP was performed in RIF patients (p value > 0.05). Overall, although there was an increase in clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in the PRP group compared with the control group, this difference did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

In patients suffering from a thin endometrium or RIF, although endometrial PRP increases endometrial thickness, it does not significantly improve fertility outcomes.