Endometrial receptivity testing can tell our doctors about a patient’s uterine lining
At The Fertility Center of Las Vegas (FCLV), we know how important it is to perform the embryo transfer when an IVF patient’s uterine lining is receptive. For most women, this happens between days 19 and 21 of their cycle. However, some patients fall outside of this range. When this happens, endometrial receptivity testing can help our Las Vegas infertility specialists find the right time to do the transfer.
How do our doctors test a patient’s uterine lining?
Endometrial receptivity testing, also known as Endometrial Receptivity Array (ERA), is a molecular test. It looks at a small sample of a woman’s endometrium (uterine lining) to determine when the lining is ready to receive an embryo.
If ERA testing is recommended, it can be performed by one of our Las Vegas infertility specialists during a mock transfer cycle. This process involves the doctor preparing the patient’s uterus the same way they would before an actual embryo transfer. Instead of doing the transfer, the doctor performs an in-office uterine biopsy. The doctor will then send the biopsy to a specialized lab for molecular analysis.
After completing the analysis, the lab will send back the findings within about two weeks. Patients can expect to receive one of the following results of endometrial receptivity testing:
- Pre-receptive means the uterine lining is not ready to receive an embryo.
- Receptive indicates the biopsy was taken at the optimal time for an embryo transfer.
- Post-receptive suggests the uterine lining has past the best stage for embryo implantation.
If the patient’s lining was receptive, the doctor will schedule the embryo transfer for the same time during the patient’s cycle next month. If the uterus was not receptive, the doctor will order additional testing to discover when the uterine lining is most receptive.
Who can benefit from endometrial receptivity testing?
Not every patient will need to undergo this type of testing. However, our Las Vegas infertility specialists may recommend it for patients with repeated IVF failure or multiple miscarriages. If a woman undergoes two or more IVF embryo transfers without successful implantation, our doctors may recommend this testing. It may also help women who have faced recurrent pregnancy loss.
Our team is here to help you decide if this type of testing is right for you and your family-building goals. If you have any questions about this or any other form of testing, contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
