Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy in Chicago, IL & Nearby Areas
Fertility Treatment Options and Care
You can put a great deal of hope into a fertility treatment plan, so an unexpected response from your ovaries or uterine lining may leave you wondering what else could be available. But an emerging treatment may be worth discussing with a physician who understands your complete fertility history. And platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP, may just be that treatment.
Here at Reproductive Medicine Institute, we offer ovarian platelet-rich plasma therapy for patients in Chicago, Oak Brook, Oak Lawn, and Skokie, IL. Our fertility specialists will explain the available evidence, evaluate your individual needs, and help you determine whether PRP may have an appropriate role in your care.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy?
PRP comes from a small sample of your own blood. Once the sample is collected, our team places it in a centrifuge to separate the plasma and concentrate the platelets it contains. These platelets release growth factors involved in the body’s natural response to tissue injury.
Within fertility care, physicians are studying how platelet-rich plasma therapy may improve low ovarian function and the development of the uterine lining. PRP is still an experimental treatment, so our specialists will discuss the current evidence and limitations with you before recommending it.
Types of PRP Fertility Treatments
Your physician may discuss PRP for either your ovaries or the lining of your uterus. Each treatment places the prepared plasma in a different area and addresses a separate part of the reproductive process:
Intraovarian PRP
Your physician injects PRP into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance. This approach is being studied for its potential influence on ovarian activity and response to stimulation.
Intrauterine PRP
Your physician passes PRP through a thin catheter into the uterus. This treatment may be considered when endometrial development or receptivity has affected a planned embryo transfer.
Who May Be a Candidate for PRP?
Your physician may discuss PRP with you after testing or an earlier treatment cycle reveals a limited ovarian response, reduced ovarian reserve, or difficulty developing an adequate uterine lining. A history of recurrent implantation failure may also lead to a conversation about intrauterine PRP.
Just keep in mind that these circumstances don’t automatically make PRP appropriate. Our fertility specialists will review your medical history, bloodwork, ultrasound results, and previous treatment response before determining whether the procedure fits your fertility plan.
The Platelet-Rich Plasma Procedure
The first steps to our platelet-rich plasma procedure are similar for both ovarian and uterine treatment, but the final method of administration is going to differ. Our clinical team will explain which approach your physician recommends and provide you with instructions for your appointment. Here is how the procedure generally works:
- Collecting Your Blood – A member of our team draws a small blood sample that will be used to prepare your PRP.
- Separating the Platelets – We place the sample in a centrifuge, which spins the blood and separates its components.
- Preparing the Plasma – Our team collects the platelet-rich portion and prepares it for administration during your procedure.
- Administering the PRP – Your physician places PRP into the uterus through a catheter or injects it into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance.
The Potential Benefits of PRP Therapy
The potential benefits of PRP are going to vary based on where your physician administers it. Researchers are studying whether intraovarian PRP may improve ovarian function, follicle development, and response to stimulation medication. Intrauterine PRP may encourage the uterine lining to develop before embryo transfer.
Research into both applications is ongoing, and changes in ovarian function or the uterine lining don’t necessarily improve the chances of pregnancy. Your physician will explain what current studies have found and how those findings relate to your reason for considering PRP.
Why Patients Choose Reproductive Medicine Institute for PRP
PRP needs to have a clear purpose within your complete fertility plan. That’s why our physicians will take your test results, previous response to treatment, reproductive goals, and any procedures you already have scheduled into account before considering it a viable recommendation.
Reproductive Medicine Institute is a privately owned, physician-led fertility practice where your care gets direct clinical oversight. You’ll be able to ask questions, understand why your physician is considering PRP, and count on our team to keep you informed as you decide how to move forward.
Discuss PRP With Our Fertility Team Today
You deserve a clear understanding of every treatment you consider, especially when the available research is still developing. Our fertility specialists will carefully evaluate your history and explain what PRP could realistically contribute to your care.
Schedule an appointment with our clinical team here at Reproductive Medicine Institute today to find out whether PRP may have a place in your fertility treatment plan.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy – Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Work?
If you’re wondering what plasma-rich platelet therapy is intended to do, PRP uses a concentrated portion of your own blood to deliver platelets to your ovaries or uterus. Those platelets release growth factors involved in the body's response to tissue injury. Researchers are studying whether this response may improve low ovarian function or encourage the development of the uterine lining.
Is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Safe?
PRP uses plasma prepared from your own blood, which reduces the possibility of an allergic reaction or donor-related complication. But intrauterine and intraovarian PRP are performed differently, and each procedure has its own potential risks. Your physician will review those risks with you, answer your questions, and make sure you understand what to consider before receiving treatment.
How Long Does the PRP Procedure Take?
The intrauterine PRP procedure at Reproductive Medicine Institute generally takes about 10 minutes, although drawing and preparing your blood will add time to your appointment. Intraovarian PRP involves a different process, so its timing won’t necessarily be the same. Your nurse will provide the details in advance so you’ll know what to expect and how much time to reserve.
How Should I Prepare for a PRP Procedure?
Our clinical team will give you instructions based on whether your physician plans to administer PRP to your ovaries or uterus. Those instructions will explain how to prepare, what to bring, and whether you’ll need to adjust any medications before your appointment. We'll also walk you through what to expect afterward, including your anticipated platelet-rich plasma injection recovery time and when you should contact our office.
