Red Light Therapy and IVF Success
New research alert!
Are you facing the heartbreak of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) during your IVF journey? You’re not alone, and there’s hope on the horizon! A recent study (2024) explored how PBM a non-invasive, light-based treatment, might just be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.
RIF is generally defined as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after three or more embryo transfers of high-quality embryos, or after the transfer of a cumulative number of around 10 embryos in multiple transfers. The incidence of RIF varies depending on the population and the definition used but is estimated to occur in approximately 10-15% of women undergoing IVF. Research suggests that the levels of growth factors in the endometrium of women who have experienced RIF are lower compared to those of women with normal fertility.
What the Study Found:
In this groundbreaking study, 30 women who had experienced at least three failed embryo transfers (ETs) were enrolled. These women were divided into two groups: one group received red light before their next embryo transfer, while the other did not.
The results were promising: the women who received light therapy showed higher rates of both biochemical and clinical pregnancies compared to those who did not undergo the therapy. While the differences weren’t statistically significant, the trend suggests that red light may improve your chances of success!
The authors suggest that the success is due to light therapy increasing blood flow to the uterus and the release of growth factors in the endometrium (lining of the uterus). Factors that may influence the depth the light reaches include
Protocol Details:
Device Used: New Age BIOLASER, 900 mW power, 850 nm wavelength & 50/60 Hz
Treatment Timing: Six sessions during the menstrual cycle before embryo transfer, specifically on days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.
Session Duration: 16 minutes each, focused on the lower abdomen.
Women were given estradiol and progesterone supplementation. During the intervention, the uterus was gently pushed toward the anterior lower abdominal wall using a vaginal probe to minimize the distance between the laser probe and the uterine body. The penetration depth of near-infrared (IR) wavelength was considered to be at least 3 mm based on the existing research. But this can be different based on tissue thickness, blood concentration and even blood vessel density. The laser sessions were carefully designed to maximize the benefits without causing any pain. Plus, this treatment is performed in a single cycle before a frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET), making it easy to incorporate into your existing IVF protocol.
Note the position of the light device was on the lower abdomen which is the ‘hypogastric’ area - located below the navel.
Safety and Side Effects:
The best part? Similar to almost all of the red light research no significant side effects or complications were reported. However, larger trials are needed and I have some questions about the use of the vaginal probe in women with vaginismus.
Recommendations:
If you’ve been struggling with RIF, red light therapy is worth discussing with your fertility specialist. While this study’s small sample size means more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness fully, the early results are hopeful. PBM could be the extra boost you need to turn those negative pregnancy tests into positives.
Hang in there!
Tracy
