In IVF treatment even the best quality embryos fail to implant. Receptivity of endometrium is important in controlling implantation. Both invasive and non invasive methods are available to evaluate endometrium.
- Non invasive methods: Ultrasound on endometrium to detect thickness, pattern and sub endometrial blood flow. 3D ultrasound for calculating endometrial volume
- Invasive method: endometrial receptivity array
Timeline of Implantation process
Successful implantation of the embryo is the rate limiting factor in IVF treatment. This process includes following steps:
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- Implantation process starts on day 5 post fertilization and probably ends on day 10 called implantation window. At this time we can confirm pregnancy with beta HCG test in the blood.
- The zona pellucida surrounding the blastocyst ruptures on day 4 post fertilisation.
- This phenomenon is also known as hatching.
- Adhesion of the blastocyst to the endometrium is the next most important step.
- The embryo starts developing and burying into the endometrium in the next few days.
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