Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is produced by spinning blood in a centrifuge so that it separates. In addition to PRP, the process can produce other items such as platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and platelet lysate (PL). PRP can be used to treat conditions like knee osteoarthritis, sports injuries, hair loss, and infertility struggles. Ovarian rejuvenation with PRP is an innovative therapeutic method that contributes to the balance of FSH, E2, AMH, LH hormone levels, impacting the reconstitution of the menstrual cycle, even if it has already stopped. It can turn back the fertility clock for women who have experienced early menopause. It is a treatment that can help women achieve pregnancy naturally or with some help from other fertility treatments such as IVF or IUI.
The greater challenge comes with the decision to use or not to use their own eggs in IVF technologies in order to obtain successful pregnancies.
Generally speaking, Ovarian Rejuvenation treatment doesn’t have an age limit and it is considered safe for everybody. According to the New York Fertility Institute, ovarian rejuvenation is more suitable for perimenopausal and menopausal women who have POF or low egg reserves.
It has a specifically greater impact on women typically younger than 40 with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), women with early perimenopause, women who have a low ovarian reserve, and those with low Anti-Mullerian (AMH) hormone (AMH) levels and menopausal or perimenopausal women under the age of 50 years. Therefore, as the ovaries age, they are not able to prepare the hormones that are responsible for the stimulation of follicles development, meaning that fewer eggs reach the viable stage of development.
Also, Callejo et al. recorded a case of interest in a woman without ovaries. They injected PRP in the ovarian tissue and detected after four and a half months the ovarian function to be restored and the first spontaneous menstruation ensued. Then, after successful drug stimulation, they managed to get good quality eggs and the woman got pregnant through an IVF trial.
Considering the fact that ovarian rejuvenation treatment is a preparation of the patient’s own blood there is no possibility of rejection. Stem cells that are led by the growth factors in the blood are naturally found in the ovaries so no outside substances or drugs are required for the process to work.
Therefore the ovarian PRP is perfectly safe with the only side effects being temporary discomfort or pain that lasts approximately 1-2 hours after the patient is administered oral pain medication. These side effects are very similar to an egg retrieval procedure that usually takes place within the IVF process.
The core benefit of the PRP treatment for ovarian rejuvenation is the possibility of conceiving naturally with one’s own eggs, which had been impossible prior to this procedure. In PRP, the growth factors stimulate stem cells in the ovaries and therefore it can increase the amount of healthy, viable eggs you have. Since this is an innovative medical aid, there is no guarantee of success, stated or implied, that pregnancy will happen.
It has been suggested that one round of treatment has been enough for a woman to experience the benefits of the treatment and it takes approximately 2 to 24 weeks for them to show. It is also worth mentioning that most women notice that the therapeutic effects of the treatment last 5 to 7 months.
Some of the results are mentioned below:
Dr. Garavelas et al, reported a case of a patient, aged 41, who was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure at the age of 37. The woman reported three failed IVF attempts prior to the treatment. Two months after the PRP fertility treatment, FSH levels were 12.5 mIU/ml and AMH 0.20 ng/ml. After three months of the PRP administration, the patient achieved pregnancy naturally.
The process involves two phases.
The first stage is the preparation of patients’ Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) which involves blood collection through the injection of white globules and platelets from red blood cells and serum into patients’ veins in order to obtain several blood tubes. With a procedure called centrifugation, the white blood cells and platelets are detached from the red blood cells and is a process that lasts less than one hour.
In the second phase, the insertion of PRP into the ovaries is administered with a nonsurgical, transvaginal ultrasound-guided injection performed under sedation with an anesthetic agent. This is a very similar procedure that is used for egg retrieval in the In Vitro Fertilization but the approach is less invasive, safer, and the recovery is shorter and more comfortable.
In order to track if the ovaries regeneration occurred, AMH (antiMullerian hormone), FSH, LH, and Estradiol levels are monitored at monthly intervals in women who do not menstruate, and during the menstrual cycle in menstruating women for a time frame of six months. If the AMH levels rise, while FSH, LH, and estradiol levels become lower, is evidence that ovaries have responded to the treatment.
For women traveling from abroad to do the treatment in our cooperating clinics in Greece, the clinic will provide instructions and guidance on the follow-up checkup of pregnancy and care. It is necessary to keep in mind that any therapeutic effect of growth factors may need 3-6 months to be noticed since any kind of tissue transformation will not be instantly apparent.
Although ovarian rejuvenation is observed, pregnancy may not necessarily occur, as there may be other factors that could prevent natural conception. If these tests reveal that natural conception is not likely, the clinic will advise the appropriate treatment. IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) or IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) might be one of the available options that the clinic would offer.
MEDIPASS cooperates with several clinics that are based in Greece.
If you are questioning yourself on whether you should choose ovarian rejuvenation in Greece, here are some of the main reasons.
Firstly, Greek doctors and health professionals, in general, are well educated and highly experienced. The majority of them have studied abroad and attended international conferences in order to be well informed about the latest medical trends. This means that are speaking fluent English and other languages. Also, having always the latest equipment in place, therapy costs are less expensive than in other European countries.
Also, Greece is an ideal recovery place as health tourism in Greece can be combined with a restorative and relaxing environment that aids your recovery from any kind of treatment.
Specifically, MEDIPASS cooperates with two clinics and four doctors in Greece that have been performing PRP treatments for the last 3 years, to patients from all over the world.
Crete Fertility Centre is one of the clinics that pioneered in the field of PRP treatment for the last four and a half years. Dr. Matthew Fraidakis is the scientist responsible with experience of 35 years in the field of infertility.
Dr. Fraidakis has vast experience in the field of PRP and he has effectively treated more than 3200 women globally using the PRP treatment with excellent results.
According to their latest data, the success rates of PRP reach over 85% and according to data so far, the pregnancy rates that they have achieved after PRP are 48%, of which 26% was achieved with natural conception.
Both PRP techniques, transvaginal ultrasound, and laparoscopy, can be carried out. The success rates of both techniques coincide.
Their experience in the field of fertility has been evident by the study that they have done which has already been published with data from 2017 – 2018 and it is the most extensive study in the world as far as the number of patients is concerned. In a short while, a new study with a sample of about 500 patients will be published which will prove new data that is even more encouraging and exceptional.
Currently, the advanced EnPRP method has been performed in the clinic by direct injection of proteins and growth factors into the ovaries after special treatment and centrifugation of platelets.
The results are more than satisfactory. In the months to come, new studies after using the EnPRP treatment will be published. But, the results have already been coruscating.
It is needed to be pinpointed that there has been no complication in any case that was treated. This provides proof of our experience in this field.
Crete Fertility Centre recommends that premenopausal women undertaking Ovarian Rejuvenation treatment will benefit greatly if they also perform vaginal rejuvenation. It improves significantly the loss of desire, sexual dysfunction, and performance or urine incontinence.
“Hi Vivi.
I will take the opportunity to e-mail you.
Hope all of you are well and doing great. We have done FSH and WE test after 4 months. The results look promising! FSH- 8.4
Today is the 4th day of her period.
Waiting for Dr. further advice on how to proceed.
Regards!””(Patient at Crete Fertility Centre)
Dr. Garavelas at the IO Life Clinic, the overall Ovarian Rejuvenation therapy response rate is over 70%, whereas over 90% of patients have significant improvement in ovarian function. There were 7 pregnancies and 4 babies (3 deliveries until the beginning of 2018) out of 28 ovarian rejuvenation procedures in total, which corresponds to a 25% pregnancy rate in the group of responding patients. Also, 8 of 28 patients had their period back in less than 6 months. In 10 patients we had oocytes/embryos (some of them vitrified).
L.K. was a 41-year-old woman who had been trying to conceive for two years. She was missing periods, had experienced typical symptoms of menopause and had elevated FSH levels. Prior attempts at IVF failed to produce viable eggs. She had a deep desire to have a +baby, but the use of donated eggs was not acceptable method to achieve pregnancy. She became pregnant three months after intra ovarian platelet-rich plasma therapy and is due to deliver in January, 2019.
(Dr. Garavelas Patient)
Crete Fertility center offers Ovarian PRP with a price starting from 1700 euros, including operating room fees, anesthesia medication cost, anaesthesiologist’s fee, nursing service fee, laboratory cost to prepare Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).
The clinic is based in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, is certified since 2010, and has the highest possible qualification an IVF clinic could have. (These certifications guarantee both the quality and the security of the services ). Specifically, the center has performed Ovarian Rejuvenation therapy in over 400 women which the greater part of them coming from abroad.
Dr. Garavelas in IO Life Clinic rejuvenates the ovarian function with the price starting from 1950 euros and this includes operating room fees, anesthesia medication cost, anaesthesiologist’s fee, nursing service fee, laboratory cost to prepare Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).
IASO IOLIFE clinic is located in Athens in Greece, and the overall Ovarian Rejuvenation therapy response rate is over 70%, whereas over 90% of patients have significant improvement in ovarian function.
Dr. Papanikolaou also performing at IASO IOLIFE clinic, also uses a more targeted approach called enPLAF PRP which is less painful, has a higher concentration of factors, it can be frozen/refrigerated for future use and has an excellent shelf life. Price of PRP Ovarian Rejuvenation starts from 1800 euros and for enPLAF from 2050 euros.
Dr. Koufomichail, co-founder of YGEIA IVF EMBRYOGENESIS also performs ovarian rejuvenation with the price starting from 1900 euros.
Dr. Grigorakis, one of the founding members of Institute of Life (IOLIFE) – IASO, performs ovarian PRP transvaginal from 1700 euros and ovarian PRP laparoscopic from 3000 euros.
It is also worth mentioning that for the performance of the treatment there is no need for additional drugs or medications to be taken so it won’t be any additional charges on top of the treatment price.
It is important here to state that because ovarian rejuvenation is a relatively new fertility treatment, it may not be covered by any insurance. So it is important to read carefully the terms and conditions of your health plan and consult with a specialist in order to guide you through the logistics.
For women who still have their menstrual cycle, the procedure is best performed during the menstrual period or early in the cycle. For women who don’t get their periods anymore, either naturally or irregularly it can be performed at any time.
If you decide that you want to proceed with the treatment, we kindly ask all ovarian rejuvenation candidates to complete and send back to us a medical questionnaire along with relevant analysis. The doctor will be able to access each individual’s medical and hormonal background in order to create a personalized treatment plan based on your health requirements and needs.
Also before proceeding with the treatment, our cooperating clinics need some hormone tests that will help monitor ovarian functionality before and after the treatment. These are FSH, LH, E2 (estradiol), and AMH. If there is still a menstrual cycle, even if irregular, the tests should be performed on the second or third day. If menopause has started the tests can be performed at any time, even at the clinic on the day of the treatment.
It is also required to undertake the following exams prior to treatment :
The aforementioned tests need to be done in the last six months to be validated, in the clinic before the treatment.
On the day of the treatment, you should not eat or drink anything for a period of 8 hours prior to the procedure, since an anesthetic is used. On the day of the procedure, blood will be drawn for the preparation of the PRP. The anesthesiologist will insert an intravenous catheter and will fall asleep for about 10 minutes while the ovarian PRP is performed. An ultrasound Transvaginal guided technique is used to inject a small amount of liquid containing the white blood cells and platelets into each ovary. At the end of the treatment you can sleep for 1-2 hours, when you are ready to leave, it could be accompanied by a family member or a friend at home or in a hotel
In MEDIPASS, we understand how difficult it is to choose a clinic, especially abroad, and for this reason, we are here to support all international customers to undertake Ovarian Rejuvenation treatment in Greece.
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