Any hopes with stem cell therapy for uterine lining thickness ?

[VG2021]

Hi All - I have been struggling with almost nil endometrium (never crossed 5.5 mm) - tried multiple cycles of E+P , sildenafil, hysteroscopy (had 3 of them) , GCSF injections also but none yielded any results ?

My doc has now suggested trying stem cells for endometrium ( vascularity is excellent though), I am looking to see if any has tried this or has any references i can read ? I am told this is still under research so obviously there is no guarantee it will work.

I have worked with multiple docs over the last 2 years and this seems to the final step before i get pushed to surrogacy (not sure how to react).

In a really negative headspace as of now , feeling too disappointed

[CassieJ]

Hello - I’m so sorry you’re going through this-it’s such a hard journey. Have you been diagnosed with Ashermans? Sorry I might have missed this in one of your previous posts-I ask as I had uterine scaring removed. Also have you ever tried a mini stim instead of normal estrogen priming/ prog -again sorry this may all be things you’ve already tried. The reason I ask is that this helped me more than external estro. Finally I was just wondering if you were under an expert in ashermans / linings issues or a miscarriage specialist rather than a generic fertility doctor. I think there maybe an overlap with immune issues but I’m not sure if that’s just my imagination. I’m in the UK-so not much help outside of that-but there’s a FB group that might be helpful too. I know it’s very rare but my doctor did tell me that one of his patients got pregnant and carried to term with a lining of 5 I think it was. Not sure if I can help but feel free to PM me if you’d like. X

[VG2021 in reply to CassieJ]

Thanks CassieJ , I was checked for Asherman but nothing significant was found for Asherman. I have also heard of people conceiving with 5/6 mm but that is not a risk my doc is ready to take as he thinks the embryo quality is too good. Will ask my doc about the mini stim cycle also.

[TTCs]

Heyyy, I struggle badly with lining too, have had 10 transfers / attempted transfers, 3 of them were cancellations due to poor lining. All of recent ones have been 5.5mm. In the early days I got to like 7mm but you're talking 6 years ago. I've had all you've mentioned, sildenafil, hysterscopies, scratch, clexane, aspirin, drank beetroot juice, pomegranate juice etc. However, this last round I had stem cell treatment and my lining got up to 8mm. I was in shock!!! I have to say my double transfer still ended in a failed round but it's the best my lining has been in years. My second period after failure also resulted in a heavier period. Nowhere near heavy compared to what others would describe but I leaked through a tampon (sorry TMI) but on a usual cycle I only need a pantyliner as bleeding is so light so for me this is progress. I'd love to hear how you get on in your round if you go ahead with stem cell. Good luck xx

[VG2021 in reply to TTCs]

Aww...It is such a difficult journey , i feel like my life has paused for the last 4 years. I am motivated to hear your experience of stem cells getting the lining to 8 mm. I can also relate to your progress as i lost periods for 556 days in 2020-2021 and just started getting a light bleed for the last 2 months . So i am also taking baby steps in this regard.

I have to make the stem cell decision in a day or two

I wish you all the very best for your TTC journey ! Hopefully we will get over this soon and happily

[soccerkt6]

Hi lovely

It sounds like you've been round the block with doctors so you may have already ticked this off the list but just in case...have you had an iron panel done? Endometrial thickness is positively correlated to red blood cell count and haemoglobin (both of which are directly related to your iron levels), so it might be worthwhile to have an iron panel done if you haven't already. If your levels are even borderline low, you could consider supplementing with iron for a few months to help boost your levels. Just be sure to request a full iron panel as you need to see several different markers of iron (like transferrin and ferritin) in order to accurately gauge your levels.

Best of luck xx

[VG2021 in reply to soccerkt6]

Thank you soccerkt6 for this suggestion. I had a ferritin check last year I think and it was fine. Plus the doctors also say the vascularity of the lining is excellent (which i assume means blood flow the uterus is adequate) , lining is also triple layer. It is the thickness which is the problem - they suspect the endometrium receptors are not doing their job. Nonetheless, i will speak to my doc to repeat the full iron panel to rule out that possibility.

[Shireen1]

Hi VG! I inquired my doctor about it but he suggested to try PRP first. I did and I got pregnant on that cycle with lining bellow 5 mm. We did it 3 times before the transfer. It improved quality but not quantity I guess. Good luck!

[VG2021 in reply to Shireen1]

So good to hear , Congratulations Shireen1 ! I also asked about PRP but the doc said he wanted to do stem cell & PRP together in a cycle. May be trying to do everything at hand in one go

[Shireen1 in reply to VG2021]

Good luck! I know how difficult it is to struggle with thin lining. I tried everything I could find - from acupuncture and TENS to viagra, tamoxifen, and pentoxyfiline. Two doctors gave up and advised to try with surrogacy. Just don’t lose hope and it will happen. Something will work! Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[VG2021 in reply to Shireen1]

Thank you !

[Hotamalepizzagrl]

I also did PRP uterine infusions which got my lining to 6.7mm (ended in a chemical pregnancy) and then 7.3mm which resulted in my current pregnancy where I’m 15 weeks along. With both those cycles I was also on Pentoxifylline and Tamoxifen too. I also did acupuncture both those cycles. Prior to those cycles I never got above 6mm (I tried every form of estrogen as well as letrozole and vaginal viagara). Hope this helps!

[VG2021 in reply to Hotamalepizzagrl]

Congratulations Hotamalepizzagrl ! All the best for your pregnancy journey !I am so encouraged to hear there is hope with lesser than ideal linings (my doc is stuck at not transferring below 7.5 mm

I will try and convince my doc to do PRP first and then stem cell may be. Fingers crossed !!