Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA) Testing

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is regarded as one of the most common and effective fertility treatments that improves the likelihood of pregnancy. Successful conception is the result of a healthy embryo implanting in a receptive endometrium. This endometrial tissue is the environment that an embryo develops and grows in and provides nourishment for the baby.

Some patients undergo multiple rounds of IVF despite what appears to be optimal conditions: high quality eggs at retrieval, a healthy uterine lining appearance and a successful transfer, but the pregnancy does not take. Patients are devastated in failed cycles and providers search for the cause(s) for repeated failed cycles. Previously, tools to evaluate endometrial linings were limited but recently Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA) Testing has become licensed as a highly accurate and technologically advanced method for analysis. 

What is the ERA Test?

Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (or Array) is a genetic test that evaluates a small sample of a woman’s endometrial lining to determine if it is prepared to accept an embryo. The test requires a tissue sample from the uterine lining through a procedure known as an endometrial biopsy. When the endometrial lining is receptive, the genetic material of the endometrial cells has a unique “expression,” which means that they may be making more or less of certain types of RNA. This test analyzes the expression levels of the 236 genes per sample and compares it against a database of more than 12,000 samples of endometrial tissue to see the levels of RNA produced at different times of the cycle.  

Advanced computer technology deploy algorithms to look for patterns until they can reliably classify a sample as "Receptive” or "Non-Receptive” according to its specific expression profiles. This test can be reproduced multiple times at the same time of the cycle but months apart and produce consistent results. This analysis offers the ability to identify whether a woman’s “implantation window” to place an embryo into the uterus is optimally timed. Once the patient’s receptive window has been identified, personalized embryo transfer (pET) timing can be used.

What is the benefit of ERA Testing?

If you are experiencing implantation failures, ERA testing may help to identify the most optimal timing for implantation success, offering additional insight into endometrial receptivity. The ERA test may also increase the possibilities of a successful pregnancy in patients pursuing frozen embryo transfer because the embryo transfer can be timed to be within the window of when successful implantation is most likely to occur.

If you would like to know more about ERA testing, you may speak with your Physician at your next appointment, or contact us here.