Endometrial scratching is a procedure that involves making small, superficial scratches to the uterine lining (endometrium).
This technique can enhance the endometrium’s ability to receive a fertilised egg, potentially aiding in successful implantation.
Endometrial Scratching, or “scraping of the uterine lining,” is a process where small, superficial scratches are made on the endometrium.
This minor irritation triggers an inflammatory response that supports the body’s natural healing processes.
It is believed that this healing can make the endometrium more receptive to a fertilised egg. This increases the chances of implantation and improving the likelihood of pregnancy.
We typically recommend endometrial scratching to patients who have experienced one or more unsuccessful IVF/ICSI treatments.
It can be a beneficial addition to the treatment plan when there are no identified issues with egg or sperm quality, and the embryos (blastocysts) have been of high quality – yet pregnancy has not been achieved through IVF/ICSI.
The procedure involves inserting a thin catheter into the uterus to gently scratch the surface of the uterine lining.
This is usually done about a week before the expected menstrual period in the cycle preceding IVF treatment.
The technique is simple and does not require anaesthesia. It takes just a few minutes, and you can leave the clinic shortly after.
Recent studies have shown promising results with uterine lining scratch Scratching:
Based on these findings, we do not routinely use Endometrial Scratching for all IVF treatments. We believe that the procedure can be particularly beneficial when one or more transfers of high-quality blastocysts have not resulted in pregnancy. This may indicate that the condition of the endometrium is the reason for the lack of pregnancy.
The exact mechanism behind the positive results of uterine lining scratch is not fully understood, but several theories exist:
Studies have shown that the procedure does not increase the risk of miscarriage.
This article was written by Dr Michala Bluhm Kracht, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Diers Fertility Clinic and specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics.
The purpose of Endometrial Scratching is to increase the chances of implantation of a fertilised egg by improving the receptivity of the uterine lining through mild irritation of the lining.
Most experts agree that scratching should be performed in the cycle prior to IVF treatment, as several studies have shown that this time provides the best results. However, if scratching is performed at the same time as egg retrieval, it seems to decrease the chance of pregnancy. Therefore, scratching is typically performed about a week before menstruation in the cycle prior to IVF treatment.
Most women only experience menstrual-like pain during the procedure, which lasts a few minutes. Light bleeding may occur afterwards.
We especially recommend the treatment for women who have had one or more failed IVF/ICSI treatments with good quality blastocysts.
The risks of Endometrial Scratching are minimal. Some women may experience mild pain and bleeding.
