Unexplained infertility happens when the issue isn’t evident through routine testing, and patients preparing for in vitro fertilization (IVF) may require an examination of the uterine lining’s health. If a patient faces unexplained infertility, failed IVF cycles, or recurrent pregnancy loss, they require further diagnostic steps. The ReceptivaDx test identifies leading causes of implantation failure; these causes include endometriosis and progesterone resistance. Here are some of the next steps with unexplained infertility:
Analyze Endometrial Health
When the cause for infertility is not immediately obvious, a patient may receive an unexplained infertility diagnosis. This occurs after routine tests show adequate sperm counts, regular ovulation, and clear fallopian tubes. Issues within the endometrium, or the uterine lining, can be the root cause, and these silent problems prevent a viable embryo from implanting successfully.
Inflammation caused by asymptomatic endometriosis sometimes creates a hostile environment within the uterus; this affects the lining’s ability to host a pregnancy. These undiagnosed factors may become the likely cause when all other issues have been ruled out. Exploring the patient’s uterine health is the next step in the diagnostic process.
If high-quality embryos repeatedly fail to implant, examining the receptivity of the uterus helps provide the answers needed for future treatments. Endometrial inflammation can disrupt hormonal signals. These signals are necessary for successful embryo attachment. Endometrial issues affect the physical structure and the molecular biology of the lining, and these specific changes are observed in these ways:
- The uterine environment can experience structural changes. This physical alteration impedes implantation success.
- Specialized biopsies can be performed. These biopsies collect tissue samples for molecular-level analysis of the lining.
- A receptive endometrium requires specific gene expression patterns, which fertility specialists measure through modern testing.
Identify Silent Endometriosis
A possible cause of implantation failure is endometriosis; this happens when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. When this disease is asymptomatic, a patient may not experience any pelvic pain or other symptoms. This leaves the condition undiagnosed by traditional methods.
Silent endometriosis may lead to inflammation inside the uterus, and this makes the lining unfavorable to an implanting embryo. This inflammation also causes progesterone resistance, which blocks the hormone. Progesterone needs to perform its role for the embryo to survive, but this resistance prevents proper hormonal support. These silent issues create a non-receptive environment for a viable embryo.
Explore Testing Options
Targeted testing to identify silent endometriosis helps address implantation issues. ReceptivaDx is a test that identifies inflammation caused by silent endometriosis. It looks for the BCL6 marker in a single sample. BCL6 is associated with uterine inflammation and progesterone resistance. By identifying a positive result, doctors can recommend treatment options like hormone suppression therapy; this helps improve the chance of pregnancy. Additional benefits of this test include:
- The test helps to identify chronic bacterial infection, such as endometritis; this issue sometimes impedes successful implantation.
- Testing may be performed on an endometrial biopsy sample. Fertility specialists collect this small tissue sample during a simple office visit.
- CD138 is an additional marker used in the test, which helps identify the presence of chronic endometritis.
Address Unexplained Infertility Today
Addressing unexplained infertility may be achieved using specialized diagnostic tools, and these methods help identify hidden uterine issues. The ReceptivaDx test provides diagnostic information. It specifically looks for markers of uterine lining inflammation, which is associated with asymptomatic endometriosis. Doctors identify this inflammation by testing for the BCL6 marker. If the test is positive, physicians may recommend surgical options, like laparoscopy, to remove any endometrial lesions or a course of hormone suppression therapy. Visit ReceptivaDx today for a consultation and address infertility with targeted testing.