When to do assisted hatching

Assisted hatching is advisable when

• The zona pellucida (protein shell enclosing the embryo) is thick.
• The patient is older than 37 and/or has a history of high FSH.
• The patient has had previous IVF failures.
• Frozen embryos are thawed for transfer (freezing hardens the zona).

If assisted hatching (AH) is necessary or advisable, it is done just before the embryos are loaded into the transfer catheter.

• Hatching involves creating a tiny hole in the protective covering of the embryo -    this will make it easier for it to hatch from this shell at the time of implantation    into the lining of the uterus.
• The 'hole' is created by micro-injecting a tiny amount of an acidic substance that    dissolves the shell only at the point where it is injected.
• Hatching can now be done with laser. At the Brandeis Center, we are considering    a study to determine whether there is an advantage to laser-assisted hatching.