Assessing receptivity in the endometrium: the need for a rapid, non-invasive test.
Successful implantation of an embryo into the uterus requires synchrony between the blastocyst and the endometrium. Endometrial preparedness, or receptivity, occurs only for a very short time during the mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle in fertile women. Failure to achieve receptivity results in infertility and is a rate-limiting step for IVF success. Frozen embryo transfer in non-stimulation cycles is already improving live birth rates. However, an important tool that is missing in the armoury of reproductive specialists is a means to rapidly assess endometrial receptivity, either during initial assessment or immediately prior to embryo transfer. The development of a wealth of omics technologies now opens the way for identifying potential receptivity markers, although validation of these is still a major issue. This review assesses the current state of the field and the requirements to proceed to a valid clinical test.
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Box 5152, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. Electronic address: tracey.edgell@princehenrys.org.
Tracey A
TA
Edgell
Luk J F
LJ
Rombauts
Lois A
LA
Salamonsen
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers
biomarker validation; endometrium; genomics; proteomics; receptivity; uterine fluid