Laser Assisted Hatching

Assisted hatching is a technique where a gap is made in the shell or "zona" of the embryo prior to the embryo transfer. The idea is that this small slit in the shell of the embryo improves its ability to hatch out of the shell after it forms a blastocyst.

Laser Assisted Hatching is useful for the following patients:

a) Who’ve failed previous IVF/ICSI cycles
b) Who have frozen embryo transfer
c) Women who are older than 37 years of age hence produce eggs with a harder Zona Pellucida
d) Women who have a high Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level

Why would a laser be used as the hatching method instead of other methods?

Lasers are usually used to perform trophectoderm biopsy. Therefore, when an in vitro fertilization laboratory sets up to do trophectoderm biopsy they would often get a laser and would likely start using it for their hatching procedures.

Assisted hatching with a laser is faster and easier to set up compared to the acid method

Laser Assisted hatching takes remarkably less time and shields the embryo from toxic chemicals so the collective effect of these factors reduces the stress placed upon the embryo during the process. The technique also ensures that the embryo is less exposed to physical manipulation.