Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy (LIT)

What is LIT?

Lymphocyte Immunization Therapy (LIT) is a fertility treatment whereby white blood cells from the father to be are isolated from the father’s blood and injected into the skin of the prospective mother.

When is LIT helpful as a fertility treatment?

Most often LIT therapy is done after many failed IVF cycles and suspected immunologic reasons for failed implantation.

How does LIT help fertility outcomes?

As mentioned LIT is often done after suspecting immunological reasons for failed embryo implantations. Because the growing embryo and fetal tissues are derived from both the mother and father’s genes, it is theorized that the mother’s immune system is recognizing proteins derived from the husband’s part of the genome as foreign and attacking the growing fetus.

LIT is thought to mitigate this harmful reaction to the growing embryo/fetus by providing a “friendly,” introduction to paternal proteins, antigens, and cellular structures that could be classified as harmful and thus trigger the termination of an early-stage pregnancy.

Where is LIT done?

LIT Therapy is currently unavailable within the United States. Most commonly, treatment is coordinated with doctors in Canada or Mexico in preparation for their fertility treatment.