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Semin Reprod Med 2021; 39(05/06): e1-e4
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1739162
Review Article

The Current Role of Induced Endometrial Trauma (Endometrial Scratch) in Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

Mostafa Metwally 
1   The Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, United Kingdom
,
Stephen Walters
2   The Clinical Trials Research Unit, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
,
Robin Chatters
2   The Clinical Trials Research Unit, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Abstract

Induced endometrial trauma, otherwise known as endometrial scratch is a simple technique that has been rapidly adopted into clinical practice, mainly for women having IVF treatment, in an attempt to increase pregnancy rates. The introduction of endometrial scratch followed early reports of improved clinical pregnancy rates in women with repetitive implantation failure after having the procedure and follows on from evidence from animal models in the early 20th century suggesting that mechanical trauma to the endometrium can induce decidual changes. Due to the ease and low cost of the procedure, it has been rapidly adopted as an add-on to fertility treatments, in many cases where evidence is still lacking. Despite the initial publication of a large number of studies that demonstrated encouraging improvements in pregnancy rates in women who underwent this procedure, these studies were mainly limited by the small sample sizes and heterogeneity of their study populations, leading to limited validity of the evidence provided by these studies. More recently, three large randomized controlled studies have been published that paint a different picture regarding the value of this procedure. This article explores the evolution of the evidence and the current state of endometrial scratch as an adjuvant therapy for women undergoing IVF treatment.

Keywords

IVF - endometrial scratch - endometrial trauma - infertility add on


Publication History

Article published online:
15 November 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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