Therapeutics Emerging Therapies
RRM Academy Synopsis
Three healthy births followed red light therapy in older women
A London case series of three women aged 40 to 43 with unexplained age-related infertility reports a healthy baby for each woman who received light treatments (photobiomodulation). All three pregnancies reached full term and ended in the birth of a healthy baby. Each woman had at least one earlier miscarriage.
Key Findings
- The study followed 3 women with unexplained age-related infertility, treated by one laser operator in London between April 2021 and September 2023.
- All three pregnancies reached full term and ended in the birth of a healthy baby.
- Case 1 had three miscarriages and one molar pregnancy before treatment. After a course of light treatments and one euploid embryo transfer, she gave birth in July 2022.
- Case 3 had two miscarriages, one IVF cycle in the UK and four outside it. Six treatments before a stored euploid embryo transfer brought no pregnancy; three more preceded a natural conception.
- PAPP-A and free β-hCG values, measured at 11 weeks of pregnancy, were within the normal range for all three women.
Interpretation
The authors describe a prospective observational case series of three women and rate it level IV evidence. They name the lack of a control or sham group as a limitation. Cases 1 and 2 received light treatments in the lead-up to IVF egg retrieval and embryo transfer (a euploid frozen transfer in case 1, a fresh Day 3 transfer in case 2). The authors call this a straightforward adjunct to IVF. Case 3 conceived naturally. The authors call for larger studies to validate the protocols.
RRM Context
Photobiomodulation acts on energy production in the egg and early embryo. This fits the restorative aim of supporting the body's own reproductive function. Case 3 ended in a natural conception, the result closest to that aim. Restorative reproductive medicine treats unexplained infertility as undiagnosed.
Abstract
Background and Objectives
Female infertility due to unexpected causes exhibits a great challenge for both clinicians and women who are trying to conceive. The present clinical case series study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multiple wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) laser photobiomodulation (PBM) for increasing the potential of fertility in women and improving reproductive health in unexplained infertility issues. The objectives were to assess the following: (1) any adverse effects; (2) the possibility of producing an effective PBM protocol; (3) and healthy live birth. The inclusion criteria were to related to females who failed to conceive naturally beyond two years, multiple miscarriages, molar pregnancy, non-viable embryos from in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles, and failure to complete successful implantation of viable pre-implantation genetic tested (PGT-A) embryos.
Methods
Case series of three female subjects with unexplained age-related infertility issues, which included a failure to conceive naturally beyond two years, multiple miscarriages, molar pregnancy, non-viable embryos from IVF cycles, and failure to complete successful implantation of viable pre-implantation genetic tested (PGT-A) embryos. In each case, previous conditions were recorded and then compared with outcomes after the patient received a course of PBM treatments. In every case, fertility outcomes improved. Three cases resulted in a full-term pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby. PBM treatments were given at weekly and/or at two-week intervals using IR and NIR wavelengths between 600 nm and 1000 nm in the lead up to natural conception, IVF oocyte retrieval, blastocyst/embryo implantation, and/or the production of viable embryos.
Results
In every case, fertility outcomes improved. Improvements in reproductive health outcomes in each case give reason to suggest that PBM may help to improve unexplained age-related infertility.
Conclusions
Our study demonstrated that multiwavelength of red and NIR PBM with either an LED or laser, or a combination, improved female fertility and reproductive health and contributed to healthy live births in females diagnosed with unexplained age-related infertility. Extensive studies with robust data are warranted to validate our PBM dosimetry and treatment protocols. Moreover, understanding the genetic and phenotype biomarkers is important to standardise a range of PBM light dosimetry.
