P–301 Intrauterine instillation of autologous platelet rich plasma for thin endometrium improves the outcome of frozen embryo transfer cycles
Authors: Nagireddy S , Nellepalli S R , Vembu R , Pandurangi M , Gopal. Krishnan M , Namboor. Srinivasan S , Raja N 
Published: August 2021

Study question

How does the intrauterine instillation of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) affect the endometrial thickness and live birth rate in frozen embryo transfer cycles?

Summary answer

Intrauterine instillation of autologous PRP resulted in significant improvement in endometrial thickness. The live birth rates were satisfactory post-PRP instillation.

What is known already

Autologous Platelet rich plasma (PRP) had resulted in significant improvement in endometrial thickness, when instilled intrauterine in women with thin endometrium in FET cycles.

Study design, size, duration

A retrospective observational study was performed at a tertiary care university teaching hospital in South India. 35 women who received intrauterine autologous PRP during endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfer from June 2017 to December 2020, were included. Patients who underwent donor oocyte recipent cycles, those with a history of tubercular endometritis, Asherman syndrome, previous intrauterine manipulations such as manual removal of placenta, and uterine anomalies were excluded.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

All the women underwent endometrial preparation in artificial cycles by depot GnRH agonist suppression and HRT (Hormone replacement therapy) was initiated by 4–6 mg of estradiol valerate and stepped up as required. Autologous PRP was offered to all women who had endometrial thickness &lt; 7 mm on day 16 of HRT. PRP was prepared by the two-step centrifugation method and administered intrauterine by IUI catheter. The patients underwent repeat evaluation after 5 days post-PRP instillation.

Main results and the role of chance

Optimal response to PRP was considered as the attainment of an endometrial thickness (ET) ≥ 7mm after 5 days of post-PRP. 25 (71.4%) had an optimal response to PRP. There was a significant improvement in the endometrial thickness(mm) in the study participants following PRP instillation: 6.3 ± 0.6 vs. 7.1 ± 1.2; P = 0.0001.The study participants were divided into two groups based on their response to intrauterine PRP instillation. Those who optimally responded to PRP were categorized as Group A and those who didn’t were categorized as Group B. The study participants of both the groups were comparable by their demographic characteristics such as age, cause of infertility, indications for ART, and the dose of estradiol valerate before PRP. The dose of estradiol valerate (mg) after PRP was significantly higher in Group B compared to Group A: 19.9 ± 4.9 vs. 15.6 ± 3.9; P = 0.014. A total of 26 women underwent embryo transfer and 9 (25.7%) women had cycle cancellation. Of these 22 were from Group A and 4 from Group B. The pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates were 36.3%(8/22) and 25% (1/4); 31.8% (7/22) and 25% (1/4); and 31.8% (7/22) and 25% (1/4), respectively.

Limitations, reasons for caution

As the study was retrospective in nature and the PRP was offered only in patients who had consented, there was a significant bias. Hence the results of the study should be interpreted with caution. Further large prospective RCTs (Randomised controlled trials) are required to confirm our findings.

Wider implications of the findings: Autologous PRP may enhance the response to the estrogen preparations. It may produce satisfactory live birth rates and reduce cycle cancellations in a reasonable proportion of patients with thin endometrium in FET cycles. However, these findings should be confirmed by dose finding clinical trials, and studies involving a comparison group.

Trial registration number

Not applicable