Local endometrial trauma: A treatment strategy to improve implantation rates

Abstract

Implantation continues to be a rate-limiting step, despite the various advances and the increasing success rates of assisted conception treatment in recent years. For implantation to occur a blastocyst must attach to and invade the endometrium under the influence of both oestrogen and progesterone. Many factors can affect an embryo’s implantation potential, including sperm and oocyte quality in addition to iatrogenic factors such as laboratory conditions and embryo transfer technique. In addition, many conditions of the uterine cavity may influence the ability of the embryo to implant. Although the role of the endometrium in implantation is complex and not fully understood, it is thought that inducing controlled endometrial trauma can increase endometrial receptivity and this novel approach is examined in this chapter.