In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex fertility treatment, and underlying reproductive health conditions can influence its success. Endometriosis and endometritis are two conditions that affect the uterine environment, potentially interfering with fertility treatment and contributing to IVF failure. ReceptivaDx helps detect these concerns, which allows patients to make more informed treatment decisions. Here are several ways underlying health issues can impact IVF success:
Fewer Eggs Retrieved
IVF is a multi-step process. It typically involves:
- Ovarian stimulation: A fertility specialist evaluates the patient’s reproductive health and prescribes medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
- Monitoring and egg maturation: Ultrasounds and blood tests help track egg development, and a trigger injection prepares mature eggs for retrieval.
- Egg retrieval and sperm collection: Mature eggs are collected during a minimally invasive procedure, while a sperm sample is collected and prepared for fertilization.
- Fertilization and embryo development: Eggs are fertilized in a laboratory, and specialists monitor the resulting embryos as they develop over several days.
- Embryo testing and transfer: If appropriate, embryos may undergo genetic testing before specialists transfer a selected embryo into the uterus.
- Pregnancy testing: A blood test is performed several days after the embryo transfer to determine whether pregnancy has occurred.
Egg retrieval plays a key role in IVF success, and certain health conditions can affect the number and quality of eggs available. Endometriosis occurs when endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, including around the ovaries and other pelvic organs. When endometriosis affects the ovaries, it may lead to endometriomas. These cysts are usually filled with a thick, brown fluid. They can damage healthy ovarian tissue and reduce the number of follicles available to produce eggs. This has the potential to lower a patient’s ovarian reserve and decrease the number of eggs retrieved during an IVF cycle. Identifying underlying reproductive health concerns helps patients and their fertility specialists determine which steps to take to optimize treatment outcomes.
Decreased Implantation Success
To become pregnant, an embryo needs to implant successfully in the uterus. Endometriosis is associated with chronic pelvic inflammation and hormonal imbalances, which affect the uterine environment and endometrial receptivity. The condition may make it more difficult for an embryo to attach to and implant in the uterine lining; this sometimes contributes to IVF failure.
In some patients, endometriosis alters the normal communication between the embryo and the uterine lining. The lining must undergo several normal changes to support implantation; this includes thickening, developing a healthy blood supply, and becoming receptive to the embryo. When these changes don’t occur because of inflammation and hormonal issues, the uterine lining is less prepared to support an embryo. This may make successful implantation and pregnancy more difficult to achieve. With ReceptivaDx, patients are able to detect biological markers associated with endometriosis. This information helps fertility specialists better understand potential causes of implantation problems and determine an appropriate treatment approach.
Advanced Disease Effects
As endometriosis becomes more advanced, it can have a larger impact on fertility and the IVF process. Moderate to severe endometriosis sometimes causes scar tissue and adhesions to form around the reproductive organs. These changes can affect the normal position and function of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, making conception more difficult. Even if the condition is advanced, some patients have no noticeable symptoms until they experience difficulty becoming pregnant. This is known as silent endometriosis. Patients can use specialized testing to detect the condition, and this prompts fertility specialists to evaluate the severity and location of the disease when developing an IVF treatment plan.
Specialized Testing Options
Endometriosis testing helps patients and their fertility specialists identify potential causes of IVF failure. Symptoms and imaging can provide key information, but specialized tests offer additional insight about the presence of inflammation and infection. They help detect endometrial inflammation, which is associated with both endometriosis and endometritis. Elevated BCL6 is linked to endometriosis, and CD138 to endometritis, a bacterial infection. ReceptivaDx can measure both biomarkers using a single endometrial biopsy.
Various concerns lead patients to explore specialized testing, including the following:
- Repeated IVF failure: Patients who have experienced one or more unsuccessful IVF cycles may choose to investigate whether endometrial inflammation is affecting implantation.
- Repeated implantation failure: When good-quality embryos repeatedly fail to implant, testing helps provide additional information about the uterine environment.
- Unexplained infertility: Patients without an obvious cause of infertility may benefit from additional information about possible underlying endometrial inflammation.
- Symptoms associated with endometriosis: Pelvic pain, painful periods, and other symptoms are sometimes normalized, though they are also symptoms of endometriosis.
Find Answers After IVF Failure
Specialized testing with ReceptivaDx helps detect inflammation associated with endometriosis, including in patients with little to no symptoms. Positive results indicate high BCL6 levels and suggest inflammation, while negative results make endometriosis less likely. Testing gives IVF specialists additional information when evaluating implantation problems; this helps guide decisions about the next steps in treatment. It can also identify progesterone resistance, which is associated with recurrent pregnancy loss. Visit the ReceptivaDx website today to learn more.
