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Semin Reprod Med 2014; 32(05): 410-414
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1376360
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Clinical Management of Endometrial Receptivity

David Blesa
1   IVIOMICS S.L. Parc Cientific Universitat de Valéncia, Paterna (Valencia), Spain
,
María Ruiz-Alonso
1   IVIOMICS S.L. Parc Cientific Universitat de Valéncia, Paterna (Valencia), Spain
,
Carlos Simón
1   IVIOMICS S.L. Parc Cientific Universitat de Valéncia, Paterna (Valencia), Spain
2   Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (FIVI) and Instituto Universitario IVI/INCLIVA, Valencia University, Parc Cientific Universitat de Valéncia, Paterna (Valencia), Spain
3   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
24 June 2014 (online)

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Abstract

The endometrial window of implantation (WOI), the cycle days during which normal embryo implantation can occur, has generally been assumed to begin on cycle day 19 or 20 of an idealized 28 days cycle and last for 4 to 5 days. Noyes et al took the first steps in defining the WOI by establishing a set of morphological criteria to evaluate endometrial development and receptivity, but recent studies have invalidated their use in the routine evaluation of infertility. Based on greater than 10 years of extensive research, our group has developed a molecular diagnostic tool (the endometrial receptivity array [ERA] test) based on the specific transcriptomic signature that identifies the receptive endometrium in natural and artificial (hormonal replacement therapy) cycles. The ERA test has shown that some patients have a delayed WOI, others have an advanced WOI, and others can have unusually short windows of receptivity. This identification and characterization of the WOI allows the personalization of the embryo transfer. In this review, we describe the ERA and our experience with its use in assessment of the endometrial receptivity in patients undergoing assisted reproduction.

Keywords

endometrial receptivity - implantation window - personalized medicine - embryo transfer

Notes

David Blesa, PhD and María Ruiz-Alonso, MSc have contributed equally to this work.


 

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