Implantation: mutual activity of sex steroid hormones and the immune system guarantee the maternal-embryo interaction.

Implantation is strictly dependent on the mutual interaction between a receptive endometrium and the blastocyst. Hence, synchronization between blastocyst development and the acquisition of endometrial receptivity is a prerequisite for the success of this process. This review depicts the cellular and molecular events that coordinate these complex activities. Specifically, the involvement of the sex steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone, as well as components of the immune system, such as cytokines and specific blood cells, is elaborated. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.