Implantation Window Test
If a woman has repeatedly undergone unsuccessful IVF treatments with good embryos and a well-built endometrium, or if implantation has not taken place despite optimal conditions, a test for the determination of the so-called implantation window (ERA test) can help.
An Endometrial Receptivity Array (ERA) test can be used to determine whether a ” displaced” implantation window is responsible for implantation failure and failure to achieve the desired pregnancy (applicable to 25% of women who fail implantation) and to determine the individual ideal time for embryo implantation .
The ERA test is performed on a natural cycle 6 to 7 days after the increase in luteinizing hormone (LH), which controls ovulation. In the case of an irregular cycle, the cycle can be artificially steered towards this point by targeted hormone administration. As part of the test, a small sample of tissue is taken from the endometrium using a very fine plastic catheter carefully inserted vaginally into the uterus – in most cases, this is done completely without jokes and without complications.
The tissue sample is sent to the laboratory of our cooperation partner, where it is analyzed. The expression of 200 genes in the endometrium is determined and analyzed according to the special algorithm.
In the test, two results can be determined: “receptive” and “non-receptive”.
If the endometrium is receptive, this means that the embryo can normally implant 120 hours after the start of the increase in LH. A further embryo transfer can therefore be carried out in one of the following cycles as usual after HCG trigger/LH increase by adding progesterone.
If the endometrium is not receptive, it means that there is a “shifted” implantation window, i.e. that the endometrium is ready for implantation at an atypical time after the administration of the HCG trigger/LH surge and the timing of all subsequent embryo transfers must be individually adjusted. In this case, the ERA test can now determine a personal implantation window that offers the best chance of successful implantation.
