Serono Symposia: Conference on Endometrium and Embryo Implantation — the hidden frontier, Lyon, 9/2010

The majority of embryos transferred to the uterus during IVF unfortunately fail to implant. This has been the case from the early days of IVF in the 1980s up to today.

The symposium discussed the mechanisms responsible for embryo implantation as well as the most recent methods that may increase the chance of pregnancy.

Invited lecture:

Meta-analyses of randomised studies examining the addition of hyaluronan to the embryo-transfer medium clearly show a 9% increase in pregnancy rate, although the precise mechanism of action of hyaluronan remains incompletely defined. Hyaluronan produces a viscous transfer medium which prevents expulsion of embryos from the endometrial cavity and at the same time facilitates the implantation of the blastocyst.