Many times, couples come to our fertility center curious about HLT(husband lymphocyte transfer) or LIT(lymphocyte immunization therapy , a treatment option we frequently discuss. They seek to understand its impact and effectiveness in treating infertility.
We are committed to providing clear and comprehensive information to help our patients make informed decisions. But they often have related questions like:
How does HLT affect the wife?
How effective is HLT in infertility?
Can HLT help if the wife gets repeated negative results of IVF?
HLT or husband lymphocyte transfer, also known as LIT(lymphocyte immunization therapy) or Paternal Lymphocyte Immunization (PLI) refers to immunological treatment aimed either at improving chances of pregnancy in women with previous Failed IVF or chances of reducing miscarriage rate in women with previous multiple miscarriages.
What is Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy?
The basic fundamental behind this is that the embryo has cells of both husband and wife. So the uterus of the wife can reject the embryo since it considers the husband’s cells present in the embryo as a foreign body.
We have to do certain blood tests to determine which patient is going to get benefit with which kind of lymphocyte immunization therapy.
Once we have done the testing and formulated a plan, the husband’s blood is taken, and certain cells are separated, concentrated, purified, and injected into the wife’s body to reduce the chance of embryo rejection in the future.
When it is recommended?
Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy is usually recommended in the following cases:
- Recurrent miscarriages: Especially when no other medical cause is identified.
- Repeated IVF failures: When multiple IVF attempts have failed despite good-quality embryos.
- Unexplained infertility: In cases where an allo-immune problem is suspected, meaning the woman’s immune system may not be accepting the embryo properly.
So How Does Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy Affect Pregnancy?
In LIT, when the white blood cells of husband is injected into women’s body, it stimulate her immune system which promotes its tolerance toward the embryo and reduces the chances of pregnancy loss.
We have seen more than 50% of patients who have either failed IVF or repeated miscarriages getting benefit from LIT.
FAQs
How does HLT affect the wife?
In HLT, Husband’s lymphocytes are injected into the wife’s body which has minimal side effects, which are mild fever or local soreness.
How effective is HLT in infertility?
As per our consideration, HLT is very effective for more that 50% patients with failed IVF or repeated miscarriage.
Can HLT help if the wife gets repeated negative results of IVF?
Yes, HLT can help wife with repeated IVF failures by reducing immune rejection of embryos.
What is Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy?
LIT is a procedure where white blood cells (lymphocytes) from the husband are injected into the wife’s body to improve pregnancy changes.
Dr. Swati Singh (MBBS, MD – Obstetrics & Gynecology, DNB, FRM, Diploma in Reproductive Medicine and Embryology – Germany) is a leading Infertility Specialist and Gynecologist with over 18 years of experience. As Co-Founder and Senior Consultant at Yaami Fertility & IVF Center, Indore, she offers advanced fertility care including IUI, IVF, ICSI, and management of female reproductive disorders. Known for her compassionate and patient-first approach, Dr. Swati combines global training with deep clinical expertise. She is also actively involved in women’s health advocacy, medical research, and promoting awareness about reproductive wellness and fertility treatments.
