This book focuses on uterine endometrial function and receptivity from multiple perspectives. The chapters cover a variety of topics including the role of estrogen and progesterone, animal models, parameters for assessing endometrial receptivity, the mechanism of angiogenesis, epigenetic regulation, and stem/progenitor cells. Despite nearly 35 years of experience with in vitro fertilization, the rate of successful implantations remains low. Abnormal endometrial receptivity has been proposed as one of the factors contributing to reduced reproductive potential in women, but our understanding of it is limited. Endometrial receptivity results from an orchestrated interplay between the embryo and the maternal endometrium, and the receptive status, known as the window of implantation, is reached only briefly in the mid-luteal phase. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in endometrial function and paves the way for innovative treatments and drug development for infertility. This work will appeal to a wide readership, from researchers on endometrial function and assisted reproductive technology (ART) to clinicians and technicians in the field of gynecology.
"This book thoroughly describes the current knowledge on endometrial function with respect to receptivity and implantation. ... This book is mainly suitable for researchers interested and working within the field of endometrial biology. It is a good reference textbook summarizing contemporary knowledge for clinicians with a special interest in the molecular and cellular biology of the endometrium." (Sebastian Gidlöf and Emma Öberg, AOGS Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, Vol. 96 (5), April, 2017)