Red Light Therapy and Asherman Syndrome
Understanding Asherman's Syndrome and the Promise of Photobiomodulation (PBM)
What is Asherman's Syndrome?
Asherman's syndrome, also known as intrauterine adhesions, is a condition where scar tissue forms inside the uterus. Other terms used to describe the condition are ‘intrauterine adhesions’, uterine synechiae, sclerotic endometrium and Asherman Syndrome. It is found in approximately 5-39% of women with recurring pregnancy loss.
This scar tissue can cause the walls of the uterus to stick together, leading to symptoms like:
Irregular or absent periods
Pelvic pain
Infertility or difficulty carrying a pregnancy
The condition often develops after surgical procedures to the basal layer of the uterus, such as a D&C, cesarean, myomectomy or due to chronic endometritis caused by pelvic inflammatory infection. The scarring disrupts the normal lining of the uterus, making it harder for an embryo to implant and for the uterus to function properly. If you’re experiencing secondary infertility after a cesarean you may find this article helpful too.
Adhesions within the uterus.
Traditional Treatments
Doctors usually treat Asherman's syndrome with surgery to remove the scar tissue (adhesiolysis) and sometimes prescribe hormones to help the uterine lining heal. However, the scar tissue can come back, and full recovery of the uterine lining is not always possible. We need to modulate how your cells replicate at the root cause.
How PBM May Help Asherman's Syndrome
The Science - In Simple Terms
Recent research suggests that PBM could help reduce scar tissue and improve healing in the uterus. Here’s how it works:
Light Energy for Healing: PBM delivers gentle light energy to the tissues. This light is absorbed by cells, especially in the mitochondria (the cell’s “powerhouse”).
Boosting Cell Activity: The absorbed light helps cells produce more energy (ATP), which is vital for repair and growth.
Reducing Scar Tissue: PBM can decrease inflammation and slow down the processes that lead to excessive scar formation. It encourages the body to break down abnormal fibrous tissue and replace it with healthy cells.
Improving Blood Flow: The therapy also increases blood flow to the treated area, bringing more nutrients and oxygen needed for healing.
The cAMP/PKA/CREB Pathway - PBM’s Healing Shortcut
One of the most exciting discoveries about PBM is how it activates a natural healing pathway in the body called the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway. Here’s what that means, in everyday terms:
cAMP is a messenger inside cells that tells them to get busy repairing and growing.
PKA is a protein that gets switched on by cAMP and helps pass along the healing message.
CREB is a “master switch” in the cell’s nucleus that turns on genes needed for healing and tissue repair.
When PBM shines light on tissues, it jump-starts this pathway. Studies in animal models (including those with uterine scarring similar to Asherman’s) have shown that PBM:
Activates the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway
Leads to thicker, healthier tissue with less scarring
Improves tissue healing in other parts of the body as well, like skin wounds
Researchers have found that when this pathway is blocked, the healing benefits of PBM are greatly reduced. This means that activating cAMP/PKA/CREB is a key reason why PBM works to reduce scar tissue and promote healthy regrowth.
What Does the Research Say?
In a 2023 study using a rat model of intrauterine adhesions (similar to Asherman's syndrome), PBM at a wavelength of 632 nm led to:
Thicker and healthier uterine lining
Less scar tissue
Partial recovery of fertility
Activation of healing pathways in the cells (cAMP/PKA/CREB)
Other studies have shown that PBM helps heal wounds and reduce scarring in skin and other tissues, often through the same cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway.
While these results are promising, most of the evidence so far comes from animal studies. More research is needed to confirm the benefits and best practices for using PBM in women with Asherman's syndrome. But if you’re struggling with this condition and traditional medicine has little to offer you other than surgery, which comes with risks, it is worth considering some home use devices especially as red light therapy is so safe.
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