EC Gynaecology

Narrative Review Volume 13 Issue 11 - 2024

Endometrial Preparation Useful to Embryo Implantation

Francesco Maria Bulletti1, Maurizio Guido2, Antonio Palagiano3, Maria Elisabetta Coccia4, Veronica Bianchi5, Romualdo Sciorio1 and Carlo Bulletti6*

1CHUV Lausanne - Département D'hôpital Maternité/Gynécologie et Obstétrique, Lausanne, Switzerland

2Full Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, DFSSN Department, University of Calabria, Italy

3Chief Consultant in Fertility and Sterility - CSA, Naples, Italy

4Associated Professor SSD: MEDS-21/A - Ginecologia e Ostetricia, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche 'Mario Serio, Italy

5Chief laboratory Embryology, Policlinico città diUdine, Italy

6Associate Professor Adjunct, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Yale University New Haven, CT, USA and Director of Help Me Doctor a Worldwide Platform for 1st and 2nd Medical Opinions, Italy

*Corresponding Author: Carlo Bulletti, Associate Professor Adjunct, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Yale University New Haven, CT, USA and Director of Help Me Doctor a Worldwide Platform for 1st and 2nd Medical Opinions, Italy.
Received: October 22, 2024; Published: November 11, 2024



Endometrial preparation is crucial in IVF protocols to create optimal conditions for embryo implantation and pregnancy. Successful embryo nidation requires a receptive endometrium, influenced by factors such as endometrial thickness, hormonal environment, autocrine and paracrine growth factors, and resident stem cells in the endometrium basalis. Synchronization between embryonic and endometrial development is essential. However, identifying the precise Window of Implantation (WOI) is challenging due to variability in estrogen and progesterone production, metabolism, and metabolic clearance rates (MCR). This review aims to outline a clinical approach that, though not absolute, assists in understanding complementary phenomena and provides useful guidance for practice.

 Keywords: Endometrium; Basalis; Functionalis; Estradiol; Progesterone; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Transport; Growth Factors; Endometrial Thickness; Markers of Decidualization; Pinopodes; Endometrial Assessment; Embryo Implantation

  1. Gill P., et al. "Does recurrent implantation failure exist? prevalence and outcomes of five consecutive euploid blastocyst transfers in 123,987 patients”. Human Reproduction5 (2024): 974-980.
  2. Strowitzki Thomas., et al. "The human endometrium as a fertility-determining factor”. Human Reproduction Update 5 (2006): 617-630.
  3. Bulletti C., et al. "Progesterone: The key factor of the beginning of life”. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 (2022): 14138.
  4. Mathyk B., et al. "A critical appraisal of studies on endometrial thickness and embryo transfer outcome”. Reproductive Biomedicine Online 4 (2023): 103259.
  5. Brodeur TY., et al. "Increasing endometrial thickness beyond 8 mm does not alter clinical pregnancy rate after single euploid embryo transfer”. Reproductive Sciences4 (2024): 1045-1052.
  6. Chen SL., et al. "Endometrial thickness is a reliable predictor of pregnancy in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles”. Fertility and Sterility6 (2010): 1960-1963.
  7. Kovacs, P., et al. "The effect of endometrial thickness on IVF/ICSI outcome”. Human Reproduction11 (2003): 2337-2341.
  8. Demirol A and T Gurgan. "Effect of endometrial thickness on implantation rates during in vitro fertilization”. Fertility and Sterility3 (2004): 431-434.
  9. Craciunas L., et al. "Conventional and modern markers of endometrial receptivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. Human Reproduction Update2 (2019): 202-223.
  10. Gao G., et al. "Endometrial thickness and IVF cycle outcomes: A meta-analysis”. Reproductive Biomedicine Online1 (2020): 124-133.
  11. Kasius A., et al. "Endometrial thickness and pregnancy rates after IVF: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. Human Reproduction Update4 (2014): 530-541.
  12. Momeni M., et al. "A meta-analysis of the relationship between endometrial thickness and outcome of in vitro fertilization cycles”. Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences3 (2011): 130-137.
  13. Csapo AI., et al. "Effects of luteectomy and progesterone replacement therapy in early pregnant patients”. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology6 (1973): 759-765.
  14. Gallos ID., et al. "Optimal endometrial thickness to maximize live births and minimize pregnancy losses: analysis of 25,767 fresh embryo transfers”. Reproductive Biomedicine Online5 (2018): 542-548.
  15. Lv H., et al. "Effect of endometrial thickness and embryo quality on live-birth rate of fresh IVF/ICSI cycles: a retrospective cohort study”. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology1 (2020): 89.
  16. Liu KE., et al. "The impact of a thin endometrial lining on fresh and frozen-thaw IVF outcomes: an analysis of over 40,000 embryo transfers”. Human Reproduction10 (2018): 1883-1888.
  17. "Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Surrogacy Abroad”. U.S. Department of State (2024).
  18. "Surrogacy by State”. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2024).
  19. "Recommendations for Practices Using Gestational Carriers: A Committee Opinion”. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2022).
  20. Fleischer AC., et al. "Sonography of the endometrium during conception and nonconception cycles of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer”. Fertility and Sterility3 (1986): 442-447.
  21. Gonen Y., et al. "Endometrial thickness and growth during ovarian stimulation: a possible predictor of implantation in in vitro fertilization”. Fertility and Sterility3 (1989): 446-450.
  22. Mahutte N., et al. "Optimal endometrial thickness in fresh and frozen-thaw in vitro fertilization cycles: an analysis of live birth rates from 96,000 autologous embryo transfers”. Fertility and Sterility4 (2022): 792-800.
  23. ESHRE Working Group on Recurrent Implantation Failure., et al. "ESHRE Good Practice Recommendations on Recurrent Implantation Failure”. Human Reproduction Open (2023): hoad023.
  24. Groenewoud Eva R., et al. "Influence of endometrial thickness on pregnancy rates in modified natural cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer”. Fertility and Sterility7 (2018): 808-815.
  25. Ju W., et al. "Endometrial compaction is associated with the outcome of artificial frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: a retrospective cohort study”. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics7 (2023): 1649-1660.
  26. Check JH., et al. "The effect of endometrial thickness and echo pattern on pregnancy rates during assisted reproduction”. Fertility and Sterility5 (2003): 1130-1135.
  27. De Geyter C., et al. "Prospective evaluation of the ultrasound appearance of the endometrium in a cohort of 1,186 infertile women”. Fertility and Sterility1 (2000): 106-113.
  28. Shakerian B., et al. "Endometrial thickness is not predictive for live birth after embryo transfer, even without a cutoff”. Fertility and Sterility1 (2021): 130-137.
  29. Al-Jefout M., et al. "Vascular endothelial growth factor and endometriosis”. Obstetrics and Gynecology International (2009).
  30. Stewart CL., et al. "Blastocyst implantation depends on maternal expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor”. Nature6390 (1992): 76-79.
  31. Marquardt RM., et al. "Progesterone and estrogen signaling in the endometrium: what goes wrong in endometriosis?" International Journal of Molecular Sciences15 (2019): 3822.
  32. Marquardt Rebecca M., et al. "Contemporary understanding of the genetic basis of endometrial receptivity”. Fertility and Sterility3 (2019): 620-628.
  33. Bulletti C., et al. "Targeted drug delivery in gynaecology: the first uterine pass effect”. Human Reproduction4 (1998): 998-1004.
  34. Mackens S., et al. "Frozen embryo transfer: A review on the optimal endometrial preparation and timing”. Human Reproduction11 (2017): 2234-2242.
  35. Díaz-Gimeno P., et al. "A genomic diagnostic tool for human endometrial receptivity based on the transcriptomic signature”. Fertility and Sterility1 (2011): 50-60.
  36. Noyes N., et al. "Endometrial thickness appears to be a significant factor in embryo implantation in in-vitro fertilization”. Human Reproduction4 (1995): 919-922.
  37. Noyes RW., et al. "Dating the endometrial biopsy”. Fertility and Sterility1 (1950): 3-25.
  38. Lessey BA and SL Young. "What exactly is endometrial receptivity?" Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology2 (2019): 356-367.
  39. Lessey Bruce A. "Assessment of endometrial receptivity”. Fertility and Sterility 3 (2011): 522-529.
  40. Stewart Colin L., et al. "Blastocyst implantation depends on maternal expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor”. Nature 6390 (1992): 76-79.
  41. Seppala Markku, et al. "Glycodelin in reproductive physiology and pathology”. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology3 (2002): 275-281.
  42. Lessey Bruce A., et al. "Integrin adhesion molecules in the human endometrium. correlation with the normal and abnormal menstrual cycle”. Journal of Clinical Investigation1 (1992): 188-195.
  43. Bulun Serdar E., et al. "Regulation of Ki-67 proliferation index in normal and abnormal endometrium”. Obstetrics and Gynecology International (2010): 1-8.
  44. Bagot Catherine N and Linda C Troy. "HOXA10 and uterine receptivity”. Reproductive Biomedicine Online3 (2001): 303-307.
  45. Sher Gur., et al. "Endometrial vascularity during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and the outcome of in vitro fertilization”. Fertility and Sterility5 (1999): 870-875.
  46. Aplin John D., et al. "MUC1, glycans and the cell-surface barrier to embryo implantation”. Biochemical Society Transactions6 (2008): 1470-1474.
  47. Lutjen P., et al. "The establishment and maintenance of pregnancy using in vitro fertilization and embryo donation in a patient with primary ovarian failure”. Nature 5947 (1984): 174-175.
  48. Simón C., et al. "Clinical evidence for a detrimental effect on uterine receptivity of high serum oestradiol concentrations in high and normal responder patients”. Human Reproduction9 (1995): 2432-2437.
  49. Eftekhar M., et al. "Effect of low-dose HCG on endometrial thickness and ivf outcomes: a randomized controlled trial”. Human Fertility2 (2014): 130-135.
  50. Margalioth EJ., et al. "Investigation and treatment of repeated implantation failure following IVF-ET”. Human Reproduction12 (2006): 3036-3043.
  51. Santamaria X and C Simon. "Endometrial receptivity: Cell adhesion molecules and implantation of the human embryo”. Human Reproduction Update3 (2012): 219-232.
  52. Xu B., et al. "Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene polymorphisms in endometriosis: a meta-analysis”. Molecular Biology Reports6 (2013): 4743-4751.
  53. Rubinstein M., et al. "Low-dose aspirin treatment improves ovarian responsiveness, uterine and ovarian blood flow velocity, implantation, and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization: a prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled assay”. Fertility and Sterility5 (1999): 825-829.
  54. Lédée-Bataille N., et al. "Concentration of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in uterine flushing fluid is highly predictive of embryo implantation”. Human Reproduction1 (2002): 213-218.
  55. Domar AD., et al. "Impact of group psychological interventions on pregnancy rates in infertile women”. Fertility and Sterility4 (2000): 805-811.
  56. Huniadi A., et al. "Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) efficacy on endometrial thickness and infertility: a single-centre experience from Romania”. Medicina9 (2023): 1532.
  57. Stewart A., et al. "Determining a threshold measurement of endometrial thickness for asymptomatic postmenopausal women: a tertiary centre case series”. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 6 (2022): 887-893.
  58. Barash A., et al. "Local injury to the endometrium doubles the incidence of successful pregnancies in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization”. Fertility and Sterility6 (2003): 1317-1322.
  59. "Randomized controlled trial of the effect of endometrial injury on implantation and clinical pregnancy rates during the first ICSI cycle”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  60. Raine-Fenning NJ., et al. "The relationship between endometrial vascularity and endometrial thickness during the peri-implantation period in women undergoing assisted conception”. Human Reproduction5 (2004): 1045-1051.
  61. Roberto da Costa RP., et al. "Endometrial nitric oxide production and nitric oxide synthases in the equine endometrium: relationship with microvascular density during the estrous cycle”. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 4 (2006): 287-302.
  62. Bulletti C., et al. "Paracrine regulation of menstruation”. Journal of Reproductive Immunology1-2 (1998): 89-104.
  63. Bulletti C., et al. "Basement membrane components in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic endometrium”. Cancer1 (1988): 142-149.
  64. Bulletti C., et al. "Extraction of estrogens by human perfused uterus”. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2 (1988): 509-515.
  65. Bulletti C., et al. "Uterine contractility during the menstrual cycle”. Human Reproduction4 (2002): 877-883.
  66. Bulletti C., et al. "The role of progesterone in uterine contractility and embryo implantation”. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics7 (2001): 443-446.
  67. Bulletti C., et al. "Electromechanical activities of human uteri during extra-corporeal perfusion with ovarian steroids”. Human Reproduction 8 (1998): 1558-1563.
  68. Bulletti, C., et al. "Uterine contractility and embryo implantation”. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology3 (2005): 265-276.
  69. Doyle N., et al. "Effect of timing by endometrial receptivity testing vs. standard timing of frozen embryo transfer on live birth in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization: a randomized clinical trial”. JAMA21 (2022): 2117-2125.
  70. Doyle JO., et al. "Double-blind, multicenter, randomized clinical trial to compare the live birth rate in patients who had era or not in their single EET cycle”. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (2022).
  71. Tang Y., et al. "An update on experimental therapeutic strategies for thin endometrium”. Endocrines4 (2023): 672-684.
  72. Shalma NM., et al. "The efficacy of intrauterine infusion of platelet rich plasma in women undergoing assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 23 (2023): 843.
  73. Kamath MS., et al. "Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor administration for subfertile women undergoing assisted reproduction”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews1 (2020): CD013226.

Carlo Bulletti., et al. "Endometrial Preparation Useful to Embryo Implantation". EC Gynaecology 13.11 (2024): 01-10.