PRP and Fertility: What Does the Research Actually Show?

If you have been researching fertility treatment, you may have come across PRP (platelet-rich plasma), sometimes referred to as “ovarian rejuvenation” or regenerative fertility treatment.

PRP has gained attention in recent years as a potential treatment for people experiencing reduced ovarian reserve, poor ovarian response, recurrent implantation failure or a thin uterine lining. But while some early research has been promising, PRP is still considered an experimental fertility treatment, and there is currently not enough high-quality evidence to say that it improves the chance of having a baby.

What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma is made from your own blood. A small amount of blood is collected and processed in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors within the plasma.

These growth factors are involved in processes such as tissue repair and healing, which has led researchers to investigate whether PRP could potentially influence reproductive tissues.

In fertility treatment, PRP has mainly been investigated in two ways:

• Intraovarian PRP – PRP is injected directly into the ovaries, with the theory that it may improve ovarian function, increase follicle development or improve the number of eggs retrieved during IVF.

• Intrauterine PRP – PRP is introduced into the uterus, with the aim of improving the endometrial lining and potentially making the uterus more receptive to embryo implantation.

What does the research show?

This is where things become more complicated.

There have been a number of studies investigating PRP for fertility, and some have reported improvements in measures such as ovarian reserve markers, antral follicle count or the number of eggs retrieved.

For example, a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis involving 23 studies and more than 1,800 participants reported improvements in some ovarian reserve and IVF-related measures following intraovarian PRP. However, the authors also concluded that further research is needed to establish whether PRP is genuinely effective and which patients, if any, are most likely to benefit.

The important distinction is that improving a laboratory marker or the number of eggs retrieved does not necessarily mean that someone is more likely to have a baby.

When researchers have looked specifically at outcomes such as live birth and pregnancy, the evidence becomes much less convincing.

A Cochrane review of PRP in assisted reproduction found that the available evidence was generally very low certainty, with insufficient evidence to determine whether PRP improves live birth rates or other important fertility outcomes.

The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) currently advises that there is insufficient reliable evidence that either intraovarian or intrauterine PRP improves the chance of having a baby.

Why are clinical trials important?

Because PRP is still being investigated, clinical trials are particularly important.

A well-designed clinical trial can help answer questions that smaller studies cannot, including:

• Does PRP actually increase live birth rates?

• Which patients, if any, might benefit?

• Does it improve egg quality or quantity?

• Does it improve implantation?

• What are the potential short- and long-term risks?

• What type and concentration of PRP should be used?

• Where and when should it be administered?

At the moment, there is considerable variation between studies in how PRP is prepared and administered. This makes it difficult to compare results and determine what an effective and safe treatment protocol would look like.

For this reason, professional guidance has recommended that intraovarian and intrauterine PRP should not be routinely offered outside appropriately designed research settings while the evidence is still developing.

Is PRP safe?

Because PRP is made from your own blood, it can sound relatively low-risk. However, “autologous” does not automatically mean risk-free.

Intraovarian PRP involves injecting directly into ovarian tissue, while intrauterine PRP involves introducing a substance into the uterus. Potential risks can include bleeding and infection, and there is still limited information about the longer-term effects of these procedures.

More recently, serious complications following ovarian PRP have also been reported. In 2026, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine highlighted a case involving a tubo-ovarian abscess following ovarian PRP, reinforcing the need for caution while the safety profile of these procedures is still being established.

This doesn't mean that PRP will never have a role in fertility treatment. It means that we need better evidence before we can confidently recommend it as an effective fertility treatment.

What does this mean if you're considering PRP?

If you have been offered PRP as part of your fertility journey, it is reasonable to ask your fertility specialist some important questions:

• What evidence is there that this treatment improves live birth rates for someone in my particular situation?

• Is this treatment part of a clinical trial or is it being offered as a treatment add-on?

• What are the known risks?

• How much does it cost, and what evidence supports the potential benefit?

• Are there established fertility treatments or investigations that should be prioritised first?

Fertility treatment can be an incredibly emotional and financially demanding process. When you are looking for anything that might improve your chances, it is completely understandable to be interested in emerging treatments. But it is also important to distinguish between a treatment that is promising and being researched and one that has been shown to improve the likelihood of having a baby.

Where does osteopathy fit in?

At Tugun Osteopathy, we don't provide PRP or fertility procedures. Our role is complementary to your medical and fertility care.

For people trying to conceive, osteopathic care may focus on areas such as musculoskeletal pain, pelvic and hip function, movement, breathing mechanics and general physical wellbeing. If you are undergoing fertility treatment, we can work alongside your fertility specialist and other healthcare providers rather than replacing medical fertility care.

If you are considering PRP or another fertility treatment add-on, we encourage you to discuss the potential benefits, risks and evidence with your fertility specialist before proceeding.