Unexplained infertility can cause apprehension and confusion. ReceptivaDx may provide answers to help you resolve this ambiguous diagnosis. Here are six things one should know about the test and its relationship to unexplained infertility:
1) ReceptivaDx: What Is It?
ReceptivaDx is a test that helps identify inflammation of the uterine lining most often associated with endometriosis using a unique protein marker called BCL6.. Endometriosis is a condition that can cause infertility and failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. With ReceptivaDx, medical experts can determine the chances of having a successful IVF implantation and the likely success rate of a natural pregnancy.
2) Test Process
The ReceptivaDx testing process uses an endometrial biopsy sample. The biopsy can be taken during a client’s normal visit to their reproductive specialist or OB-GYN. The sample taken can be during a mock cycle or natural cycle. Whichever cycle it is taken in, it should be during an implantation window.
If a patient chooses to get their biopsy taken during a natural cycle, it should be taken seven to ten days after ovulation. When a mock cycle is chosen, the biopsy should be taken five to ten days after the start of progesterone.
After the collection takes place, the client’s sample is added to a 10% formalin vial, which keeps it preserved for transfer to our testing facility. Our pathology department will process and evaluate the sample. The department will send their findings in a pathology report to the patient’s physician. The sample is stable at room temperature, making it easier to ship and allowing collection any day. After five to six days, a patient’s results should be available.
3) Who Should Get Tested?
The test is recommended for four main groups of patients; those who have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility, those with a small embryo reserve, those with one or more failed IVF cycles and those with recurrent pregnancy loss defined as 2 or more miscarriages.
4) Endometriosis and IVF
When a client has undiagnosed endometriosis, it can cause issues with fertilization during implantation. Whether a client is using IVF or natural sex to attempt pregnancy, endometriosis may be the reason for an unsuccessful implant. A mild form of endometriosis often known as “silent endometriosis” can go undetected due to the lack of symptoms..
Severe forms of endometriosis can include painful intercourse, pain in the pelvis, and heavy bleeding during a menstrual cycle. An ultrasound or laparoscopy can be done to see the endometriosis, but even then, it may not be detectable.
The benefit of ReceptivaDx is that a patient can find out if she has underlying endometriosis and work toward treatment options. Once treatment options are underway, she can go through the IVF process or even get pregnant naturally.. If a test comes back negative, a client can move forward in finding other reasons that they may be experiencing infertility.
5) Treatment Options for a Positive ReceptivaDx Result
If the test results come back positive for BCL6, endometriosis is the most likely reason. Patients have a variety of treatment options. Laparoscopic surgery can be used to remove endometriosis, or hormone therapy can equally help remedy the situation. Physicians should work with their patients to develop a treatment plan for endometriosis that will work best for them.
6) ReceptivaDx Predictions
The test can predict the success of a transfer and pregnancy. Here are the rates for negative and positive tests to consider after testing:
Positive
If a client tests positive, she can have less than an 18% chance of pregnancy during their next attempt at transfer. The rate of a successful live birth may be less than 11%.
Negative
When clients test negative, their next transfer attempt ending in pregnancy increases to 70%. The success rate of a live birth rises to over 62%.
ReceptivaDx and Unexplained Infertility
When one is attempting to become pregnant, unexplained infertility can be frustrating, to say the least. IVF can be an expensive procedure. To increase chances, a patient may want to consider ReceptivaDx testing. If clients have started the process of fertility and are not having success, testing for endometriosis may assist in understanding the underlying cause and lead to a successful pregnancy. To find out more about how ReceptivaDx may be helpful to your fertility journey, contact us today.