IVF Failure and Immune Response

One of the biggest challenges in IVF has been identifying the cause of failed IVF cycles. According to a study by researchers from the Center for Human Reproduction in New York, some failed IVF cycles could be a result of the mother’s immune response to an embryo, similar to an organ rejection that can take place with organ transplants. Implantation is considered an immunologic process and women who have IVF failures are more likely to have autoimmune diseases, the study found. In addition, certain genes were identified, which the researchers believe to be playing a part in embryo rejection. Being able to make a genetic test to identify possible implantation failure, may open up new therapies to improve embryo implantation and IVF success.

by Dr. Susan Sarajari