Single-cell RNA sequencing of human endometrium across the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle

The fate of the human endometrium is determined during the mid-luteal window of implantation, a crucial period when endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs) differentiate into specialized decidual cells. Upon embryo implantation, these differentiating EnSCs transform the endometrium into the decidua of pregnancy. Conversely, in the absence of pregnancy, decreasing progesterone levels trigger tissue breakdown, leading to menstruation. Despite our understanding of these processes, the precise mechanisms governing this tissue transformation remain elusive. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing, mapping the transcriptomic profiles of timed endometrial biopsies throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.