🌸 Dr. Sayali Chavan-Shitole – IVF & Fertility Specialist | Expertise in IVF, ICSI, IUI, Fertility Preservation & Advanced Hysteroscopy 🌸

Regenerative medicine for fertility at Femcare Fertility, Kalyani Nagar, Pune uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and growth factor therapies to address thin endometrium and poor ovarian response under Dr. Sayali Chavan Shitole's guidance. Treatment candidacy is assessed individually based on investigation findings. Consultation: ₹500.

Regenerative Medicine for Fertility in Pune - New Approaches to Old Obstacles at Femcare Fertility

Regenerative medicine is a broad field that uses the body's own repair mechanisms - or carefully prepared biological materials - to restore function in damaged tissue. In fertility medicine, it is being applied to two specific and difficult problems: a uterine lining that does not grow thick enough for embryo implantation and ovaries whose function has declined or failed prematurely.

At Femcare Fertility in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, Dr. Sayali Chavan Shitole takes a measured, evidence-conscious approach to regenerative therapies. She does not present these treatments as miracle solutions, but she does offer them to carefully selected patients as part of a broader plan when conventional approaches have reached their limit.

What Is Regenerative Medicine in the Fertility Context?

In fertility medicine, regenerative approaches primarily include:

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy - prepared from the patient's own blood by centrifugation, concentrating growth factors that stimulate tissue repair and regeneration

Growth factor infusions - targeted application of specific proteins that signal cell regeneration

Exosome therapy - a more experimental approach using cell-derived vesicles carrying regenerative signals, currently under active research

Endometrial Regeneration - Addressing the Thin Lining Problem

For embryo implantation to succeed, the endometrium (uterine lining) must be at least 7-8mm thick and show a trilaminar appearance on ultrasound. A significant minority of IVF patients - particularly those with prior uterine surgery, infections, or Asherman's syndrome - have a chronically thin endometrium that does not respond adequately to oestrogen therapy.

Intrauterine PRP infusion delivers concentrated growth factors directly to the endometrial tissue, stimulating cell proliferation and improving blood supply to the lining. Clinical reports from reproductive medicine centres show improvements in endometrial thickness and higher embryo transfer completion rates in women who previously had cancelled transfers due to thin lining.

The PRP Procedure for Thin Endometrium

  • Blood draw from the patient - 10-20mL
  • Centrifugation to separate and concentrate the platelet layer
  • Intrauterine infusion via a thin catheter, similar to an embryo transfer
  • The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes and is well tolerated
  • Endometrial thickness is reassessed 5-7 days later

Ovarian Rejuvenation - A Research Frontier

The concept of stimulating dormant ovarian follicles in women with significantly diminished or absent ovarian function using PRP or growth factor injection has attracted considerable scientific interest. Several research groups have published cases of women with premature ovarian insufficiency who developed detectable follicles, underwent egg retrieval and achieved pregnancy following ovarian PRP.

However, the sample sizes in these studies are small and the treatment does not work for everyone. Dr. Sayali presents ovarian rejuvenation as an option to be considered in the context of a full discussion of the evidence, alternative options (including donor eggs) and the emotional and financial implications of pursuing an investigational treatment.

How Is Regenerative Medicine Different from Stem Cell Therapy?

PRP and growth factor therapies use biological materials derived from the patient's own blood - no cell transplantation is involved. True stem cell therapy involves harvesting cells with differentiation potential and infusing them into target tissue. Both fall under the umbrella of regenerative medicine and some clinics use the terms interchangeably. Dr. Sayali is precise about the distinction and about the evidence for each.

Patient Selection - Who Is Eligible at Femcare Fertility?

Not every patient is a candidate for regenerative approaches and not every patient who is a candidate will benefit. Dr. Sayali evaluates eligibility based on:

Confirmed thin endometrium ( "<" 7mm despite adequate oestrogen priming over multiple cycles)

History of uterine surgery or infection explaining endometrial scarring

Premature ovarian insufficiency with FSH > 40, absent periods and very low or undetectable AMH

Previous failed IVF cycles where endometrial factors are the most likely explanation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Dr. Sayali Shitole

Standard fertility treatments (IVF, IUI, ovulation induction) work with existing reproductive function - stimulating the ovaries, timing fertilisation, or bypassing blocked tubes. Regenerative medicine attempts to restore compromised tissue function - rebuilding a thin endometrium or reactivating dormant follicles - before or alongside standard treatment.

PRP uses the patient's own blood, so there is no risk of immune reaction or blood-borne disease transmission. The procedure carries the same low risks as any minor gynaecological procedure (minimal discomfort, rare infection). Dr. Sayali discusses all risks at the pre-procedure consultation.

A reassessment ultrasound is done 5-7 days after the PRP infusion. Some patients show significant improvement in endometrial thickness; others show modest change. The response guides whether an embryo transfer can proceed in the same cycle or whether a second infusion is needed.

Regenerative medicine addresses uterine and ovarian function, not primarily egg quality. Poor egg quality is best addressed through modified stimulation protocols, nutritional optimisation, or consideration of donor eggs, rather than regenerative approaches. Dr. Sayali will identify which factor is responsible for IVF failure before recommending treatment.

These treatments are generally not covered by health insurance in India as they are considered investigational or elective. Dr. Sayali provides a complete cost breakdown during the initial consultation (₹500).