Possible cause of IVF failure in some women identified: microRNA altered levels

miR-145 suppresses embryo-epithelial juxtacrine communication at implantation by modulating maternal IGF1R

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Greater understanding of the mechanisms which control success or failure can lead directly to treatments to make IVF cycles more efficient so that infertile couples can start their families.

IVF only has around a 25% success rate, largely due to the high rates of failure when embryos try to implant. Some women suffer from recurrent implantation failure, where the embryo is transferred but fails to attach to the endometrium – the mucus membrane of the uterine wall where the embryo implants. This is a significant cause of the failure of IVF as most embryo losses occur at this early stage.

University of Manchester scientists noticed that women who try and fail multiple times to implant an IVF embryo have molecular traits in common. These women tend to have altered levels of microRNA in their endometrium…

Sources and more information

  • Possible cause of IVF failure in some women identified, University of Manchester, 2015/02/02.
  • miR-145 suppresses embryo-epithelial juxtacrine communication at implantation by modulating maternal IGF1R, The Company of Biologists Ltd, doi: 10.1242/jcs.164004, January 20, 2015.
  • MAJOR NEW STUDY SHOWS WHY IVF DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK, elle, FEB 3, 2015.