Ovarian Rejuvenation: How New Treatments Help Women Conceive

Ovarian rejuvenation treatments are designed to regenerate fertility in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), premature ovarian failure (POF) or poor response with IVF. Strategies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy are designed to wake up dormant follicles and improve egg quality. Preliminary results demonstrate some hormonal response, follicle development and pregnancies, though the success rates are modest. PRP costs 30k–50k per session, while stem cell options are available from 2 lakh onwards in India.” These are still experimental procedures and can be found at just a few clinics like Wellspring IVF & Women’s Hospital.

Overview of Ovarian Rejuvenation

Ovarian rejuvenation refers to innovative therapies aimed at restoring or enhancing ovarian function in women with reduced fertility. These treatments are designed to reawaken dormant follicles (the tiny sacs in ovaries that contain eggs) and improve the ovarian environment. The ultimate goal is to help women produce healthy eggs and conceive, especially when traditional methods have failed.

Women who might consider ovarian rejuvenation would be those with low egg count or poor-quality eggs due to age or other factors, premature ovarian insufficiency (a slowing down of the ovaries before age 40) and poor responders to in-vitro fertilization (those who’ve made few eggs in previous cycles of fertility treatment). While more traditional options are usually offered such as donor eggs to such women. Ovarian rejuvenation provides a possible alternative, by trying to increase the body’s natural egg reserves and quality.

Ovarian rejuvenation involves the use of minimally invasive procedures, such as injection with platelet-rich plasma or stem cells. Early evidence indicates some women’s hormone levels may get better, they grow more follicles and even become pregnant. It is also still experimental, has uncertain outcomes and long-term safety needs further study. Here are treatments, benefits, risks, costs and availability.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is the best-known ovarian rejuvenation treatment today. It harnesses the healing components of a patient’s own blood to potentially revitalize the ovaries.

How It Works and Procedure?

PRP is prepared from the patient’s blood, processed to concentrate platelets, then injected into the ovaries under ultrasound guidance, usually transvaginally with light sedation. Platelet growth factors may improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and activate dormant follicles or stem cells. Though not fully understood, PRP aims to enhance ovarian tissue and support follicle development.

Who PRP May Help

PRP ovarian rejuvenation is mainly explored in women with age-related fertility decline, premature ovarian failure, poor ovarian response in IVF, or those nearing menopause who still wish to conceive. Some menopausal women try it for possible hormonal benefits like sleep or libido. It is not for younger women with normal ovarian reserve. The primary aim remains fertility support and helping patients with low ovarian reserve or poor egg quality produce eggs when the ovaries are underperforming.

What Studies Show

Early reports of PRP ovarian therapy are encouraging but limited. Many women show modest hormonal improvements, such as small rises in AMH (about 0.2–0.4 ng/mL) and drops in FSH, alongside increases in antral follicle count. Some patients retrieved more eggs in IVF cycles or even conceived naturally, though success rates remain low (roughly 7% natural and 10–15% assisted pregnancies in analyses). A few women regained menstruation or saw better embryo development, and rare cases of pregnancy in early menopause have been documented. While these outcomes suggest potential, researchers stress that PRP remains experimental and not guaranteed.

Risks and Side Effects

As PRP utilizes a patient’s own blood, immune reactions are very infrequent. The central risks are those of an injection into the ovary — infection, bleeding or damage to adjacent tissue. There are rare reports of pelvic sepsis or abscess, but the introduction of sterile technique together with US guidance minimises this possibility. If you’re having a medical abortion, you may have mild pain, period-like cramping or light bleeding. Serious bleeding complications are uncommon. PRP has no hormones, so it means fewer side effects of fertility drugs. The safety of repeated injections is unsure at present and protocols vary. Until better evidence is available PRP should be done by experienced fertility experts – in research or monitored environment.

Treatment Cost

PRP ovarian rejuvenation is offered only at select fertility clinics worldwide and remains experimental, so insurance does not cover it. Patients usually pay out of pocket. In North America, one session costs about $1,500–$3,000 (₹1.25–2.5 lakh). Packages of two or three may be slightly discounted. In lower-cost regions such as Turkey or Cyprus, prices range $1,000–$1,500 (₹85,000–1.25 lakh). Costs typically include the procedure and short follow-up, but not IVF cycles that may be required afterward. Benefits, if any, may last only months, so clinics often recommend monitoring and proceeding quickly with egg retrieval or IVF.

Overall, PRP may be a paradigm shift in women with very poor fertility prognosis. It has demonstrated that it can “nudge” the ovaries in the right direction for some patients, boosting what had been virtually a zero percent chance of pregnancy with one woman’s eggs into something that was sudden impossible. But the success is anything but assured. In deciding whether to invest in PRP, interested women need to consider its cost and experimental nature relative to their desire to explore every potential pathway. It’s important to see a fertility specialist who knows this new ovarian rejuvenation technique and get an evaluation to find out whether you are likely to be a good candidate (premenopausal women who still have at least some resting follicles rather than completely diminshed or absent ovaries are most likely to respond).

Stem Cell Therapy for Ovarian Rejuvenation

Another cutting-edge approach to rejuvenate ovaries involves the use of stem cells. Stem cells are primitive cells capable of developing into various cell types and secreting healing factors. In ovarian rejuvenation, several strategies using stem cells have been explored to restore fertility in women with ovarian failure or poor ovarian function.

Stem cell therapy aims to repair ovarian tissue by delivering regenerative cells. These cells don’t become eggs but release growth factors, cytokines, and exosomes that improve blood flow, reduce cell death, and support existing follicles. The goal is to nurture dormant follicles and enhance ovarian function.

Various sources of stem cells have been investigated:

• Bone marrow-derived stem cells: These are obtained from the patient’s own bone marrow (for example, taken from the hip bone). Bone marrow is rich in mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells, which have regenerative properties.
• Adipose (fat)-derived stem cells: A small amount of the patient’s fat (often from the abdomen) is harvested via a minor liposuction; stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells) are then isolated from the fat tissue.
• Umbilical cord or allogeneic stem cells: In some experimental cases, donor stem cells (such as from umbilical cord blood or tissue) have been used. However, using someone else’s cells introduces more regulatory and safety complexity (including potential immune issues), so most trials use the patient’s own cells.

Ideal Candidates for Treatment

Stem cell ovarian therapy is aimed at women with very poor ovarian function. Trials have focused on premature ovarian insufficiency and IVF poor responders, usually older women producing few eggs despite stimulation. Younger women with moderate issues are not typical candidates. This therapy is considered an experimental last resort before donor eggs.

Reported Outcomes from Stem Cell Studies:

Early research has shown mixed but intriguing results. An Iranian study (2021), injected adipose-derived stem cells into the ovaries of nine women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Four resumed menstrual cycles, hormone levels improved, though follicle counts did not, and no pregnancies occurred. A Chinese study (2020), using donor umbilical cord stem cells in POI patients reported more follicle growth, successful egg retrieval, and four live births. Overall success rates remain low, with reviews suggesting live births in only about 10% of treated women similar to rare spontaneous recovery in POI.

More promising, the Stem Cell Regenera trial (2025) involved 145 women with ovarian failure or poor response. Using G-CSF plus PRP enriched with regenerative factors, 70% showed ovarian activity; 21% conceived (7% naturally, 14% with IVF). No serious adverse events were reported. Outcomes so far highlight potential benefits but also significant variability, with age and ovarian reserve likely influencing success.

Risks and Precautions

Stem cell ovarian therapy carries more risks than PRP, as it often involves bone marrow aspiration or fat extraction. These are minor surgical procedures with small chances of bleeding, infection, or anesthesia reaction. Side effects from mobilizing drugs like G-CSF may include bone pain, fever, or flu-like symptoms. Ovarian injection risks mirror PRP: rare infection or injury. Tumor formation is a theoretical concern, but mesenchymal stem cells have shown no such cases in studies. The 2025 Regenera trial reported only mild, transient issues. Long-term safety remains unknown, so treatment should be limited to regulated, ethical clinical settings.

Treatment Cost

Stem cell ovarian rejuvenation remains experimental and is less available than PRP. Internationally, it is offered in select fertility centers in Europe, the Middle East, and off-shore clinics tied to U.S. programs. Reported costs range from $5,000–$10,000 (₹4–8.5 lakh) in Europe, with some U.S. doctors charging up to $15,000 (₹12–12.5 lakh).

In India, treatment is available at a few advanced centers such as Mumbai and Hyderabad. Packages typically range from ₹4,00,000 to ₹9,00,000, depending on whether bone marrow or fat extraction is included. These costs usually cover stem cell processing and injection but exclude IVF cycles or medications that may be needed afterward. Insurance does not cover the procedure.

Conclusion:

Ovarian rejuvenation with stem cells is an innovative approach in fertility treatment. For women with no success from conventional care, it provides hope by harnessing the body’s regenerative cells to restore ovarian function. Current evidence shows that some patients regain cycles or even achieve pregnancy, while others experience only modest changes. Research is ongoing, and treatment protocols are evolving quickly. If proven effective in larger studies, stem cell therapy could help extend fertility or restore ovarian function after damage such as chemotherapy. For now, it remains experimental, costly, and best pursued at specialized centers like Wellspring IVF & Women’s Hospital under expert guidance.