Endometrial Scratching And IVF Treatment

What is Endometrial Scratching?

‘Endometrial scratching’ a procedure used for successfully implanting embryos after In-Vitro Fertilization or popularly known as IVF procedure.
This procedure takes place in The IVF centres. This procedure is usually carried out on patients who have failed to get pregnant even after the transfer of good quality embryos. This procedure involves taking a biopsy of the endometrium or womb (lining of the uterus), using a tiny plastic tube (small Pipelle) which is inserted through the cervix and into the uterus to obtain a small endometrial tissue, the small plastic tube creates a suction force and removes the endometrial tissue it comes in contact with; this procedure takes about half a minute.

The procedure should be approximately be done around the 21 of the menstrual cycle or best performed in the week (the luteal phase) before IVF procedure. If the menstrual cycles are irregular the fertility specialist provides specific guidance as to when the procedure will take place. The patient might feel little cramping or mild pain immediately after the procedure which will subside after the treatment is over. No anesthesia is required, but the patients are advised to take over the counter (mild) Pain Killers before the procedure begins. According to a report generated in 2004, 6/10 people encounter pain during the procedure.

How Does It Work?

It is believed that Endometrial Scratching seemingly provokes a reaction within the inner lining of the Womb and immediately hormones and chemicals are released causing a repairing and Wound healing reaction which seemingly triggers the release of Immune cells. The new lining which grows is believed to be more receptive to the implanting Embryo  on the genes responsible for implantation increasing the chances of pregnancy.

Does Endometrial Scratch increases the chance of IVF success?

The evidence which states that endometrial scratching increases the chances of pregnancy from IVF isn’t clear.

A study was conducted during 2012 stating that Endometrium Scratch was 70% more likely to result in pregnancy in women with unexplained recurrent implantation failure. A conclusion drawn by researchers in 2015 stated that Endometrial Scratching more likely improves the birth rate even for those women who have had more than one IVF failures.

Most of the IVF centres offer this services to women who have experienced IVF failures in Past.

In Singapore during the year 2014, randomly a controlled trial of 387 women resulted in the fact that endometrial Scratching not only improved the live birth rate for women with one previous IVF failure but it also improves the rates for women who have had multiple failed IVF cycles. A research was given at the annual meeting of European Society Of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) stating that Endometrial Scratching has not only increased the chance of pregnancy for couples conceiving through IVF but it also helps couples who are trying to conceive naturally, but the quality of the research through which the result was derived was considered “very low”.